first ever bees coming where to put the hive?

[coolreptile]

hi everyone
we are very excited to be getting a colony of bees from our friend in about 10 days but we are having trouble deciding on the best place for the hive so need your advice. we dont have a big garden and keep 19 chickens and 4 ducks and was going to put the hive about 10 ft past the chicken run at the top of our garden that is elevated about 20ft above any houses . will they annoy the chickens or vice -versa ? we have also been offered to house the hive on 2 friends land . one nearer the bottom of the dale just poking out of our neighbours wood so sheltered but less sunlight or in an old orchard next to a very quiet road . we would prefer them on our land of course just a little concerned about the chickens

 

[alldigging]

Face them away from the chickens and make sure you have room to stand behind and at the side.

 

[hedgehog66]

what a place
"great Fry Up "
never heard of it before, sounds like my type of village

as for the bees, they will be fine
mine are in the chicken run and they dont bother them

good luck and happy beekeeping

 

[ratcatcher]

we have two hives in our duck run, they don't worry each other, and the dead bees (that's normal) give the ducks a treat, chickens love them too

just make sure you can walk to the hive, without the entrance facing you, otherwise bees will bump you, you need access from the rear and space to put the roof down etc

 

[coolreptile]

that great news and directly ahead of them will be a very tall hedge and facing away from the chickens as well we are right in the middle of the north yorkshire moors hence why not many people have heard of great fryupdale especially as there is only 24 houses over 6 miles round the dale so we should have wild flower honey when they are established at the start and then heather honey as we are surrounded by it

 

[Susiq]

that great news and directly ahead of them will be a very tall hedge and facing away from the chickens as well we are right in the middle of the north yorkshire moors hence why not many people have heard of great fryupdale especially as there is only 24 houses over 6 miles round the dale so we should have wild flower honey when they are established at the start and then heather honey as we are surrounded by it

Hiya all,
I'm a total newbie too to all things beekeeping and hoping to get my first nuc at the end of the month. I'm also very concerned as to where to site the hive, especially after reading the above kind responses. I was also going to site the hive in our large chicken run, but against a wall that is south facing (was told at classes the bees need at least one hour sunshine during the winter months), now realise, I wouldn't be able to get to the back of the hive if I put it in situ there!?!? The chicken run is the only really logical place, as our 2 scatty Airedales can't access that area! I was hoping a local friendly beekeeper might come into our garden to advise, but there aren't really any in my immediate locale. So I'm a bit stumped as to what to do? Any advise would be very gratefully received.

 

[Davelin]

I have two hives in a chicken run on an allotment and they all get along fine. Chickens all get very excited when I arrive as they are hoping it's feed time.

Suzy, you don't have to work from the back, if you put your frames 'cold' way ie running front to back you can work from the side.
The only problem you will have is that the varroa board usually slides out from the back, you may be able to modify your floor so it comes out one side.

 

[ratcatcher]

Hiya all,
I'm a total newbie too to all things beekeeping and hoping to get my first nuc at the end of the month. I'm also very concerned as to where to site the hive, especially after reading the above kind responses. I was also going to site the hive in our large chicken run, but against a wall that is south facing (was told at classes the bees need at least one hour sunshine during the winter months), now realise, I wouldn't be able to get to the back of the hive if I put it in situ there!?!? The chicken run is the only really logical place, as our 2 scatty Airedales can't access that area! I was hoping a local friendly beekeeper might come into our garden to advise, but there aren't really any in my immediate locale. So I'm a bit stumped as to what to do? Any advise would be very gratefully received.

in future you should start your own post when wanting advice, otherwise topics can get confusing, but as your saying your coop is large, and the hive will go onto a wall, why not pull it forward two foot so you can get behind it?????

 

[coolreptile]

thank you to everyone the base is up there level and will move the hive up there tomorrow as the paint is still a bit tacky lol. made sure i have room all round the hive and will be approaching from the rear as well will be asking lots more questions im sure as we want to get it right for the little critters . oh yes one other thing - do you leave the bottom 2 supers or just one for the bees ? the winters are quite long here and its a wet place as well

 

[pargyle]

Welcome to the madhouse ... lots going on here at the moment. You have a lovely place to live in and such a great name for a Yorkshire village .....is there anywhere nearby called Bublandsqueak ?

I would worry about what stores to leave on for the winter once you get a bit nearer to winter ... the answer (IMO) is leave them enough to see them through the winter and then some. Of course, there are beekeepers who drain every last drop of honey out of the hive and then just give them gallons of (cheaper) sugar syrup ... it's not my way. Long wet winters are all the more reason to leave them with the food that is natural to them ....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fryup

 

[coolreptile]

Welcome to the madhouse ... lots going on here at the moment. You have a lovely place to live in and such a great name for a Yorkshire village .....is there anywhere nearby called Bublandsqueak ?

I would worry about what stores to leave on for the winter once you get a bit nearer to winter ... the answer (IMO) is leave them enough to see them through the winter and then some. Of course, there are beekeepers who drain every last drop of honey out of the hive and then just give them gallons of (cheaper) sugar syrup ... it's not my way. Long wet winters are all the more reason to leave them with the food that is natural to them ....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fryup

yep fryupdale is a lovely place to live we care much more about the bees than the honey so want to leave them plenty . it can be a bit bleak on the moors so want to leave them lots of reserves

 

[Susiq]

in future you should start your own post when wanting advice, otherwise topics can get confusing, but as your saying your coop is large, and the hive will go onto a wall, why not pull it forward two foot so you can get behind it?????

Very sorry Ratcatcher, as a total newcomer to both bees and the forum, I honestly wasn't aware of the protocol of this site - apologies.
Can we post pics on the forum? If so, I can show my problem of not being able to pull a hive from the wall by 2 feet - there are other areas of the garden to consider, and I'm hoping someone would be helpful enough to advise if I can show the garden pics? Thanks in advance for any advice.