Should a beehive be in sun or shade?

The hive should be placed in early morning sun. This gets the bees out of their hive earlier in the day to forage. In the Northeast, hives can remain in the full sun for the entire season. However in places with warmer climates, hives should receive some afternoon shade.

Do bees prefer sun or shade?

Place colonies where they'll have some protection from the late afternoon sun. Thomas Seeley in Honeybee Democracy says of bait hives: . . . a good location is about 5 meters off the ground, highly visible but fully shaded, and facing south. All these comments indicate that bees prefer a home in the shade.

Do beehives have to face south?

Many experienced beekeepers suggest that the entrance of a beehive ideally should face towards the south or to the east. The southern exposure makes sense. During the winter months – at least in the northern hemisphere – the sun sits low on the southern horizon.

How much sun should a beehive get?

Many beekeepers insist that honey bee hives should be placed in full sun. But like most aspects of beekeeping, it's impossible to make one rule for all locations. If you travel through wide open farmlands, you will often see beehives placed squarely in the blazing sun, perhaps sitting in a field of clover or alfalfa.

What should I put under my bee hives?

The ground under and hives should be kept weed free. Some people place the hives on mulch, wood chips and even carpet remnants. I added a layer of wood chips to the ground where the hives would be located. I placed two cinder blocks per hive on the ground, one in the front and one in the back.

Michael Kelling- Sun vs Shade for Bees?

Where should you not put a beehive?

The major issue that beekeepers have with putting hives in a valley is that the cold air usually settles in valleys. By placing your beehives in a valley, it may lead to your bees getting too cold to survive. On the other hand, putting your bee hives' location on a hill may cause an upward wind draft into the hives.

What is the best location for a beehive?

The hive should be placed in early morning sun. This gets the bees out of their hive earlier in the day to forage. In the Northeast, hives can remain in the full sun for the entire season. However in places with warmer climates, hives should receive some afternoon shade.

How far should a beehive be from a house?

Even though each case is different, we can use some general estimates of a safe distance to be from the hive. For a honey bee colony with a calm temperature, give yourself at least 4 feet of clearance behind the hive and on each side if possible.

How do you attract bees to a beehive?

Are bees attracted to sunlight?

Are Honey Bees Attracted To Light? Yes, bees are attracted to light. They have an innate positive phototactic response to light, which means they move towards sources of light. This is a common behavior in many animals and insects.

How high should a beehive be off the ground?

How high should my hive stand be? A. While this is heavily dependant on your stature, an ideal height for a hive stand is approximately 18in off of the ground. Unless you are 6'5", this height will be ideal for working your hives without destroying your back.

How often do you get honey from a hive?

Most beekeepers harvest honey 2-3 times per year/season. Honey is normally harvested between mid June until mid September. How often you harvest depends on your local climate and plant life. Poor weather conditions, disease and pests infiltrating your hives will also affect your harvesting schedule.

How many entrances should a beehive have?

Observing the Beehive Entrance. There should only be one beehive entrance and it should have a landing pad or board for the bees for taking off and landing.

Should you put bee hives in the shade?

Specially designed compact hives need to be in a sheltered spot with shade to protect from hot western and northern sun. Morning sunshine helps stir these bees to action in winter. Stingless bees forage up to 500m from their home and in warm areas a happy colony can produce up to 1kg of sugarbag honey a year.

Can I put a beehive in my backyard?

You can keep bees in your backyard – subject to the laws in the area where you live – but you need to make sure they have a clear flight path in and out of the hive. 'Orienting the hive so that bees fly across a path, patio area or part of the garden which is used regularly is not a good idea,' explains Pete.

When should you not open a beehive?

Will bees come to an empty hive?

Yes, with a bit of time and effort you can lure bees to an empty hive. For example, adding wax frames can act as a “bait” of sorts, while a smaller hive opening is preferable as it's easier for new bees to protect.

How do you take care of a beehive?

How many bees do you need to start a beehive?

The average backyard hobbyist should always start with 2 or more. Why? With two hives, you can compare the hives to each other. Usually if both hives are acting the same way, it is a normal bee "thing".

How close together can I put my bee hives?

You can space a pair of hives as close to six inches from each other, but you need several feet of space around one or two sides in order to move equipment around as you're working the hives. Know what predators (man or beast) are in your area and what protection your bees will need.

What do I do if my neighbor has bees?

Just stay still. Once a bee realizes you're not a flower and have no sweet nectar or sugar water to offer, it will go peacefully on its way. If your neighbor invites you to observe their beehive, keep a safe distance. We generally recommend standing at least ten feet away and never directly in front of the entrance.

How many acres of flowers do you need for a beehive?

How much land does it take to feed one colony of bees? Conventional wisdom suggests that to nourish one colony of honeybees it takes one acre of blossoming trees, shrubs, or flowers to thrive.

Do bees know their keeper?

Bees DO NOT recognize their beekeepers!

Beekeepers are naturally calmer and more careful around bees, so bees just leave them alone.

How close does a water source need to be to a beehive?

You should provide them with water that is much closer to home. It is best to have a water source that is no more than one mile from your hive. The closer the water source is the happier your bees will be. Consider this when you are first choosing a spot for your hive.

How much honey do you get from one hive?

How much honey does a hive produce? With a traditional beehive setup, a strong hive could produce upto 100 lb (45 kg) of harvestable honey per hive. But taking into account unforeseen factors which can affect colonies, a better average would be anywhere between 30 to 60 lb (14 to 27 kg) per hive.