How critical is hive placement?

dow · Jul 29, 2016

I realize that this is starting to be late in the year to start a new hive, but it is what it is. Labor day weekend, I'll be taking a colony of bees off of my mother's house (see here for that thread:http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?328332-starting-with-a-feral-colony). I'm trying to decide the best place to locate the hive once I get it home. I've got a 1/2 acre lot, and we're on the corner of an intersection (not tons of traffice, as one road has no outlet). Here's a thumbnail of my property (thanks google earth), the area inside the red border is our property. I'm thinking that where the little white box is would be the best place to locate the hive. It's out of the normal traffic area of the yard, faces southeast, but is still easily accessible. The area to the north and west of the house is heavily used by my son and is friend when they're out playing. Thoughts? Would some place else be better? I'm also planning on running a fence between the two storerooms to block access to the hive from the road.

Thanks for your ideas and opinions.
dow

DGR · Jul 29, 2016

Being new myself, I can tell you that you will give up significant space when you put a hive in an area. Your bees will buzz you and your neighbors on most days, causing some friction. I would recommend that you give the bees maximum sun exposure going into the fall. Decide which part of your yard that you can give up to the bees. I have 3 hives and I lost most of my back yard. Less traffic is best.

aunt betty · Jul 29, 2016

Have almost 20 on an eighth acre in the city. You're over-thinking it. Put them where you feel like they get the most sunshine.

DaisyNJ · Jul 29, 2016

Wow. I have 4 Nucs and a TBH on 1/4 acre lot, all sides with neighbors and already feel like if I am scaring people

dow · Jul 29, 2016

Got it. Thanks Aunt.

The General · Jul 29, 2016

And make your fence 6+ feet tall. The bees will fly up and away to the forage.

dow · Jul 29, 2016

Thanks! Will do.

williamdm11 · Mar 27, 2023

dow said:
Thanks! Will do.

Hi Dad!!!!

Lburou · Jul 29, 2016

There are areas of the country where you can keep bees in the shade. Not in Texas. Small Hive Beetles will plague hives in the shade. Be SURE to choose a spot with sunshine early in the day and until late afternoon, when a bit of shade will be helpful when it's 100 degrees outside.

I'm not sure where North is in your picture, but the white box looks like an okay location if you put some screening between it and the angles it can be seen from the street.

Put the hive on some kind of stand so it's off the ground. HTH

Groundhwg · Jul 30, 2016

Guess it depends on the bees. Our 3 hives have about 4 feet of space on the back side and we use to within 20 feet on the front. Plowed and planted our small garden to within 20 feet on the front and have had no problems with our bees - YET.

dow · Jul 30, 2016

Lburou, north is at the top of the picture. Guess I should have made a note of that, instead of assuming that everyone would see it the same way. There's about 25 feet between the two out buildings, and my plan is for the hive to face southeast.

Lburou · Jul 30, 2016

Seems like a good spot...With some screening.

SwedeBee1970 · Aug 11, 2016

A safe bet is away from your gardens and neighbors pool. Give them if you can, a water source when it's dry out. Protection from winter winds around pine trees or spruce. And on Ant Platforms like mine to rid them of that nuisance.

How critical is hive placement?

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