Hi all!
I’m picking up some girls in December to start my first hive! Very excited to enter the world of beekeeping
I’m going to drop off my brood box to the man who will be supplying the nucleus. He will install it for me and make sure everything is running smoothly before I go back to collect the girls and take them to their new home.
I’m wondering if I should get a different roof for the brood box to make it easier to transport as the flowhive roof is a little bulky. Will a typical Langstroth (flat) lid fit the brood box? I’m just wondering if this will be easier to put some emlocks around for the trip home? Suggestions/ previous experiences welcome. Thanks!
Hi Sharna
Sorry i have no advice for you, but I will be very keenly watching this thread as I will be looking for hints advice and information for when I transport two brood boxes my self in a few weeks time. Like you i have some one that is going to help me set up two hives(brood boxes) for me, that i have to transport about 350ks by truck. Then when we get to my farm set up in a permanent location.
I will be very interested in learning what to look out for and any tips advice on what to do and what to avoid to make sure the journey is success.
Like you this will Be my first hives.
Fingers crossed for both of us and the bees !
A standard langstroth 8 frame lid will fit. I bought a double brood box with bees and we just taped up the entrance and put a ratchet strap around it and it was all good to go, I just wish i was better prepared with the stand and area i was going to put it as i had to move it a couple of times while i was getting the stand perfect and im still working on the area so it easier to work on them.
I’m planning on setting up my (empty) flow hive on site this weekend. Clearing a space, preventing weeds etc, setting the stand to level, checking water supply etc. This is in anticipation of my nucleus colony arriving in a month, & hopefully all I have to do is transfer the colony to their new house… More than likely I’ll have forgotten something, but I’m hopeful that the advance site preparations will be beneficial.
I’ll update my progress. It’s pretty exciting what we are all up to!
Cheers Michael
If the supplier is preparing the hive with new girls he should have it at least prepped for travel.
Check: 1) the front entrance is blocked totally with a wire mesh so bees home some ventilation but can get out. 2) Make sure your upper crownbosrd/inner lid hole is taped close or mesh added n secure. 3) A flatter 8 or 10 frame wide langstroth lid would diffinatly help make securing more positive. I use two ratchet bands around the hive body (front to rear n around the sides).,
If transporting in back of truck make sure it’s secure so it can’t move during your transport. Good luck n enjoy. I’m sure all will go well. I’ve moved Nuc’s n full hives. If you secure n double check everything you should be okay. If transporting inside the vehicle have AC on a little if it’s HOT…, usually it’s not too hot up here in Washington when I’m moving any hives do not a big issue but very important in warmer climates.
The Flow hive is a standard 8-frame Langstroth, so a Langstroth flat roof or migratory roof will fit, as long as it is 8-frame size, as others have said. I think it would be easier to move them with a flat roof, as the gabled roof is a loose fit and has gaps. If it is a long trip, you would be wise to consider a ventilated or screened inner cover, so the bees don’t cook during transport. You will also need to close off the hive entrance, and the options for that are soft foam sponge, duct tape or insect screen. The benefit of insect screen is that it allows some ventilation, and it can easily be taped in place.
I would also recommend a hive strap or two, to hold everything together. If you can’t find a hive strap, the kind of ratcheting straps used by surfers to strap their boards to roof racks are fine too!
One more thought. If you are going to transport the bees inside a vehicle, I highly recommend finding one of those large capacity, fine mesh laundry bags. If you get one the right size, you can put the whole hive inside it, and it will contain any escape artist bees… Much better than driving in a bee suit and veil, or having an accident because you were stung while driving.
Cheapest and best option is to go to a hardware store like Bunnings and pick up a ratchet strap. Using the ratchet clamp really does secure the Flow roof down well. I used this and traveled over 250km to bring my hive home and all went well.
Hi Sharna, all you need is the crown board, I tape some mesh over the hole. Then I place the core flute in the top slot. What I do is make a loose fitting ply entrance closer & wedge it in firm with cardboard, leaving some sticking out so it’s easy to remove. All I do then it tightly wrap both ends with packaging tape, around the bottom board, super & crown board.
Another tip unrelated to the hive itself, make sure the hive is placed front to back in the boot of the car so frames run front to back of car. If you put it sideways without supporting the frames, bees will get squashed/killed when you brake and the combs move together.
We actually chock the frames tightly between the last frame and the edge of the box using a piece of styrofoam or stick cut to length between the frame end bars and side of the box to limit the movement.
This is especially relevant with the flow hive given the amount of space in the 8 frame box.
Much better than driving in a bee suit and veil, or having an accident because you were stung while driving.