Bait hive Location

[robthos]

Having lost a colony I am anxious to replace it and have a bait hive just into a small wood alongside a field of OSR. I have the hive facing South East, but would like to get it nearer to the edge of the wood (and the bees on the rape) but this would mean the hive entrance facing North West, directly on to the field
My question is will it still work as I have been told that hives always need to face South/South East. I seem to remember reading that this rule was not actually written in stone and that other directions will work,possibly not as well?
Any advice will be much appreciated by this first year bee keeper.

 

[Davelin]

Don't think it matters too much for a bait hive.

In my experience the most important thing for hives to get going well is to get the early sun, although an entrance facing SE is ideal I think the early sun on the hive in any orientation is more important.

If you have some clean frames from your old hive a couple of these in your bait hive will help.

 

[Roola]

And be generous with swarm attractant. Get some lemon grass oil and dab on top of frames inside and then also rub some on the underside of the box (puts the scent outside but won't be washed away by rain. I also use one of the vita swarm wipes inside

 

[itma]

You want the bait hive somewhere in the vicinity (quarter mile?) of existing colonies - not foraging grounds.

And height above ground (10 feet?) is another of the desirable attributes that bees would hope to find in their next des res.