Not necessary. Five gallon pail works everywhere.

No, seriously what do you want to do ratchet strap the hive to a concrete block?

 

In my readings many people seem to strap down the hives with a strap. I failed to leave room to do this with my cement block. I leveled my block two high and filled with dirt. Sat back and thought how am I going to anchor the hives. So I am not sure if I need to anchor the hives.

 

The bees will glue the boxes together with propolis so unless there is a hurricane in the near future strapping down a hive becomes a PITA for getting into it.

 

Great that means I don't need to do more work. Thankd

 

Have you a bear fence built around it yet?

 

The wind can blow them over, light tall hives. Straps are overkill but may be necessary in some environments. I place a brick or rock ontop of each hive. I've never had a hive blown over or lost a lid.

 

If you will have hives at home, where you can see them or check them frequently, I wouldn't worry about strapping. A brick or rock will do fine. But, if you're like some of us that only have out yards, the straps are good insurance. If an outer cover gets blown off or the hive gets toppled over and you catch it, no problem. But if the hive sits open for a few winter days after getting knocked/blown over you'll not be pleased.

 

We are currently 1000 miles away, but I watch the hives via our camera system, dial in a few times a day. If something were to happen I could call a neighbor to help out.

I have landscape blocks on the hive tops, 60 mph winds did not budge them, no straps.

 

I found that I needed hive straps after a storm and a bear knocked them over. To strap them, just run the strap under the hive. The hive might fall over, but it will not come apart.

 

If you aren't too far down the road, I would add some strapping capacity.

My hives sit on platforms made of 2 stacked pallets raised up on concrete blocks. I always have a ratchet strap running under the pallet and tucked inside it, but ready to flip over the stack and crank it down. Which is something I can do quickly should high winds be a factor. In cold weather the hives are always strapped down, and during the warm months I probably cinch 'em down a dozen or so times, in advance of predicted high winds.

We do the same with our solar array, the plane in the hangar, and the greenhouse. Even if we get caught by a surprise change in the forecast, if the straps are already in place it's just the work of a few minutes to get everything squared away.

Even though I live far outside Tornado Alley (northern NY) in 1998 a tornado slammed into my town and causing a lot of damage here on my farm.

Enj.

 

I use cam-buckle straps (less fiddly and faster to manipulate that a ratchet strap) because my hives are on my roof and are exposed to some pretty stiff winds, with some micro-gusts probably exceeding 100 mph.
Straps also mean one less heavy object to be schlepping up to the roof and lifting during hive inspections.

.

 

I would strap them down no matter what. You never know when your might get a freak storm. Straps are cheap insurance and great piece of mind.

 

I would strap them down no matter what. You never know when your might get a freak storm. Straps are cheap insurance and great piece of mind.
View attachment 15137

I totally agree with that, LoneWolf.

I use the Cam Buckle 12' pallet strap. They are fairly cheap and I'm happy with them. {I bought them when they were on sale. }
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/beekeeping-supplies/category/page40.html#HD-825

 

In Hanover PA a block or brick on the lid should do it, unless you are on top of a hill.
To me, straps seem to be a lot of effort when performing regular maintenance and feeding unless you live in a windy area.
Enjoy your bees!

 

My hives here in Baltimore essentially are exposed to the same winds that yours are, and I don't strap my hives. If during the year you stack 3 or more supers on top, you may want to slip a strap under the bottom board and over the top and secure the whole stack together, but with only one or two supers that will not be necessary.

Phil

 

Thanks all. Right now I have cinder blocks stacked and plan on sitting the hives on top. The blocks are stacked 2 high. The kicker is I live on the side of a mountain. the hives are half the way up. We do not get bad wind but some thunderstorms can get some bursts. I guess its better safe than sorry. Ill invest in some straps and at least put them all together. I was no planning on putting the hives on any wood platforms so I cant really tie the hives to the blocks.

 

I was no planning on putting the hives on any wood platforms so I cant really tie the hives to the blocks.

I don't see why not.