Any basic advice on where to locate beehive?

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Any basic advice on where to locate beehive?

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Foghorn

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 49
Location: Barcombe, E Sussex

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 08 11:39 pm Post subject: Any basic advice on where to locate beehive?

First time beekeper wanting to know some very basic principles of where to locate a single hive - I am particularly concerned about putting it somewhere where it might be a nuisance to neighbours / hazard to children, dogs. etc. Is it OK to site it near a path, or a shed, or should there be a certain amount of "clearance" around the hive to avoid territorial issues / accidental stinging, etc? Current plans are to put it round the side of a shed near a path leading to woodland, and I would hate to lose any amount of access to either the shed or the path.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 08 6:00 am Post subject:

There is no single easy answer, some colonies are very tolerant of passing visitors, others are more defensive. You need to make sure they have room to reach 'flight height' without crossing someones path, often this is achieved by making them fly over a tall obstacle before they reach a path used by people, but you need to remember that bees will be returning to the hive from all directions and if they are right by a shed or path you will get a fair bit of arial traffic!

If you have the option of a more out of the way area, I would go for that, just to give you more flexibility

random

Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Posts: 158
Location: Sk�ne, Sweden

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 08 6:06 am Post subject:

some points to consider:

make sure you're really happy with wherever you choose, it's a painfully slow job to move a hive once it has a colony inside. The rule is less than three feet or more than three miles.

You will ideally want somewhere you will have easy access - moving honey filled supers over distance is not my favourite activity.

Try to give the hive protection from the worst of the winds and rain if possible and place it where it can get morning sunlight - the hive heats up more quickly and the bees are active earlier.

If you can face the entrance towards a hedge, fence or other barrier, this makes the bees fly higher and generally keeps them over peoples head hight. Remember to leave enough clearance to easily work round the hive.

Don't face the hive entrance towards public footpaths , you don't want members of the apiphobic public crossing your bees flight path away from and back to the hive

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 08 6:21 am Post subject:
This is the leaflet that our club gives out on siting a beehive - It might help in addition to what everyone else has said https://lancaster-beekeepers.org.uk/downloads/doc_download/1-no-1-choosing-a-site-for-your-apiary

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 08 6:27 am Post subject:

As a potential beekeeper also I am considering this issue, and in fact my session on the beginner's course I went to last week was on just this topic.

I think the main points that were mentioned have been covered

But we were also told

The entrance should not face due North.

A tall obstacle to direct the flight path upwards as Sally suggests is a good way of getting the bees out of people's way, but it shouldn't be so close as to make the flight path steeper that 45 degrees.

Easy car access is important, as has been pointed out, full supers are heavy.

A flat area by the side to stand on while you go through the hive is desirable.

Rosemary Judy

Joined: 08 Aug 2005
Posts: 1215
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 08 7:42 am Post subject:
I am actually putting mine in a shed - removing a slat just under the roof, so they fly out at head height or higher,to give access. One of the speakers on my course recommended this, especially if you have nervous neighbours, as then they can't see it and can't complain !

Foghorn

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 49
Location: Barcombe, E Sussex

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 08 8:39 am Post subject:
Thanks for the advice, folks - all very useful.

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