Top Bar Hive Location

[DennisBEEK]

I built 2 top bar hives early this year...one for myself and one for my neighbor. We are going to do our 1st honey extraction in a couple of days, because both of our hives now have full combs on at least several top bars. The last couple weeks, however, I noticed that my neighbor's hive does not appear to be nearly as active as mine. There are some bees coming and going, but nothing like the activity in my hive. His hive is in quite a bit of shade and I am wondering if this can make some sort of difference.
Any advice out there on what could be wrong with his hive?
Thanks.

[Tim Hall]

Every colony is different...even from the same breeding stock. So there may not necessarily be anything "wrong" with the colony, they may just not be as productive as the other. Placing them in a sunny spot may entice them to "wake up" a little earlier in the morning to tend to business. Sunny locations may also be more hygienic.

[Hambone]

I agree with Tim. Did you install bees at the same time. Same breed. I'm guessing yes. Face the hive in a southeast direction. Where the morning sun will hit it early. Like Tim said. That will wake them up and get them going early.

[Eaglerock]

Listen to them.. they are right... face them more towards the east, southeast is good. But as a rule, I have never had a problem in any direction. Are we sure they are not ill? Are they making honey? Is the quuen laying good? Are there as many bees in his hive as yours?

[DennisBEEK]

Thanks to all of you for your replies. I will act accordingly.

[BjornBee]

I built 2 top bar hives early this year...one for myself and one for my neighbor. We are going to do our 1st honey extraction in a couple of days, because both of our hives now have full combs on at least several top bars. The last couple weeks, however, I noticed that my neighbor's hive does not appear to be nearly as active as mine. There are some bees coming and going, but nothing like the activity in my hive. His hive is in quite a bit of shade and I am wondering if this can make some sort of difference.
Any advice out there on what could be wrong with his hive?
Thanks.

Wow! Getting honey the first year. Very Good. I let mine build up as much as possible knowing mine could not be fed frames of honey from standard hives as the TBH was custom made. (newer models do not have this problem) I'm not sure your plans, but I question taking the only several frames of honey they have.

[Hambone]

I got honey the this year. My first. Only out of one hive though. I have 2. My first hive which I started a month before. I took 2 bars of 90% capped about a month ago. I could have taken 3. I left it. And they have drawn out the 2 I took and have it 50% or so stored up. I am not taking anymore this year. I want to see how much they use up in the winter or see if I get a fall flow and see how much they do with that.

2nd hive seems really slow. I haven't done a full inspection in about 3-4 weeks. I am doing one on Sat or Sun. I plan on taking good notes and posting what I see. I think there might be a problem with them.