Hive direction

[joshcowin]

Just wondering if there is a set direction that hives should be pointing in? I was planning to face mine to the west onto the open fields. Thanks

 

[Ian123]

As far as i am concerned theres no reason other than what works for you in terms of entrance direction. If you have open fields to the rear of a garden then it obviously makes sense to try and get most the traffic going this way, particularly if the garden has other users. Maybe worth some high screening between hives and the rest of garden as well to push any flight paths up obove head height.

 

[Angry_Mob]

Just wondering if there is a set direction that hives should be pointing in? I was planning to face mine to the west onto the open fields. Thanks

No set direction; some recommend south so the hive entrance gets more sun. The entrance shouldn't face prevailing winds though so somewhere with a bit of shelter would be preferable.

 

[Murox]

The apiary site and prevailing winds dictate how I face my hives. Generally the accepted norm was to face them towards the rising sun. The flight path should be away from people and pathways though.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

south facing is always best, some would say that West is the worst, depends whether the backs are exposed to the sun or not I suppose. Saying that, I have one apiary with hives facing East, West and South with tree cover behind them all - the West facing hives fare as well if not better than the East facing ones.
The rationale for South facing hives is that the sun shines in the entrance in the morning - as most have open mesh floors nowadays, it makes little difference.

 

[alfazer]

Southeast entrance gets the foragers out of bed earlier to put in a longer day's graft. (northern hemisphere)

 

[enrico]

Towards the rising sun. They start work earlier. Once they have started working they will continue but it is good to get them going asap.
E

 

[Beefriendly]

But what do they start to work on?
Nectar secretion in many plants is temperature dependent so no nectar around at the crack of dawn (oeeer missus), non until late morning.
Lots of flowers are closed up until warm so little pollen to collect either.

Me thinks "get 'em to work early" might be another one of those beekeeping myths.

 

[Ian123]

I will always pick sites that get more sunshine than not and have always found those hives in sheltered and sunny conditions fair better. What direction the entrance is in within that location is a nonsense...so forget the direction and use common sense on picking a site, or use what you have in the garden and make do. Then get to grips with the 10001 other aspects of beekeeping that will effect you more than the direction the front door faces. Theres plenty of old wives tails about lets not encourage them

 

[thedozzer]

As we only have one hive and we have only had it for a few months cant talk with any experiance, but they are in the garden and out foraging well before the sun hits the hive , its shaded by tall trees from the neighbours garden and now the days are getting shorter and the sun is lower, it doesnt reach the hive untill 9-9:30 but they will be very active from about 7:00 onward, so not sure they require direct sunlight to get active and its south east facing.

 

[Curly green fingers]

My garden hives are facing SSE , out of the privailing winds in a walled / hedge garden, 6ft high
Hill site
My river hives which are under trees face south .
In my opinion keep your hives near a wind brake hedge wall and point them out away from that.

 

[Popparand]

My garden hives are facing SSE , out of the privailing winds in a walled / hedge garden, 6ft high
Hill site
My river hives which are under trees face south .
In my opinion keep your hives near a wind brake hedge wall and point them out away from that.

Or 4 feet away and facing a wall/hedge to get them up to altitude quickly. Also facing a wall protects the hive from wind coming in that direction by breaking up airflow into eddies.

Others will disagree. Like everything else to do with beeking, every subject will generate as many different opinions as there are beekers.

 

[Curly green fingers]

I agree I had thoughts of putting hives this way facing the wall's hedge out on the common .
May be next year when I'm over run with hives!

 

[user 6228]

No set direction; some recommend south so the hive entrance gets more sun. The entrance shouldn't face prevailing winds though so somewhere with a bit of shelter would be preferable.

definitely if you an open mesh floor and a entrance ramp

 

[SteveG]

South - would be my vote.

 

[Murox]

You are probably correct. There was proper research done but I have forgotten when and where now. The idea, as told to me be my grandfather, was to give them the longest possible time to make honey. Of course we know about nectar in plants rising etc now, but don't forget they also take pollens, water sometimes, etc.