Relocating a hive

[Acree]

I’m relocating a colony a short distance (200’) that is 6 frames of bees in a 10 frame swarm trap. I’m taking it about 10 miles away. How long should I wait before I bring it back. I’ve heard everything from 3 days to 6 weeks. I don’t think I have 6 weeks before they are overcrowded.

[Jacobs]

Give it a week, perhaps 10 days. You want the bees to reorient to the new location before moving them back.