Hive on a roof

[Frenchie]

I've been offered the chance to put a hive on the roof of an old flour mill in the centre of Fecamp.The building is very high, 5 storeys, with a large flat terrace. All adjacent properties are well below this level. Their is a nice sheltered corner where I can put the hive and only the owners and I will have access. I will of course carry out early swarm control,weight down the roof and put some water nearby. Anything I've missed? Thanks.

 

[busybee53]

There are threads on this site about rooftop beekeeping which will come up if you enter it in the search box. Some of the information might be useful.

 

[Millet]

I'm knew to this amazing pass time and it's been none stop from June until now, that is with the hive at sea level around 100yrd's away, if i was beginning keeping bee's on a roof top i think i would have been sickened and stopped by now.

 

[Frenchie]

Thanks busybee53, I've now had a look at some of the threads.I have easy access via stairs and a door. Its a terrace rather than a roof so ok for walking around and it does have a low wall all the way around.I can park in the mill and have my own key for access. All looking good, I plan to move the hive around the end of Feb, before the bees get to active.

 

[Itchy]

Best to have two hives up there

 

[pargyle]

Best to have two hives up there

Or 5 or 6 .. Sounds absolutely ideal .. Lots of flowery window boxes and private gardens for the bees to raid in Fecamp in the summer and the public gardens used to be well stocked as well. Only downside is getting the supers full of honey down ... best have a word with Dusty as he's our resident roof expert !

 

[Finman]

.
The worst place to keep bees, is my opinion.

Really windy and not good to bees. Not friendly to backbone such place. Long distance to carry stuff.

Roofs are not meant to walk. If the roof start to leak, it will be expencive Job...
I move my hives to such place, where distance is 1-5 metre from my carry to the site


I started my migrative beekeeping 1965 with bicycle.
.
.

 

[oliver90owner]

No problem, Finsky - they could simply install flow hives and turn on the taps downstairs!

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Hi there.

Ignore Finman. I keep bees on two rooftops in Central Manchester - the cathedral and a commercial building.
Things to bear in mind (some of which you've covered):

Access I/c taking bulky items onto the roof - but also removing full supers.
Transporting full, dripping supers through a building.
Protection from the prevailing wind. Stability of tall hives in high winds.
Do the hives need some protection from full sun? (They do - and the beekeeper does - on a lead roof!)
Spreading the load of the weight of the hives on a potentially fragile roof.
Storage - both external and internal, and perhaps for things like acetic acid.
Water - for washing things down eg hive tools.
Safe place to leave a smoker to burn out.
Rubbish disposal.
A workshop close to the hives.
Warning signs. Unauthorised access.
Where and how to sear equipment.
Where will swarms go? How will they be handled? Education of nearby workers. Publicity.
Is there access 24/7 in case of emergencies or will bees be told to swarm in office hours Monday to Friday?
Safety issues - I/c managing stings, anaphylactic shock, height of railings etc.
A deputy to cover for holidays and sickness.

I'm sure there's a lot more, but these have been issues I've faced.

Please PM me if you want to natter about it.

Dusty

 

[Frenchie]

Thanks for the list Dusty.Their is a proper staircase to the roof( well more of a terrace really, so ok for walking on.The builing is pretty much empty except for some old equipment so easy for carrying kit up and down,albeit a bit of a trex. As a roof terrace it does have a structure on it were I can tuck the hive in so some protection from the wind.I will strap the hive down and may be fix the stand in place.Protection from full sun was something I had't thought about,thanks.Their is a storage room on the terrace which I can use.Water is available in the building and I plan to set some sort of water container on the roof.No one will have access to the terrace except myself and the owners.I will carry out diligent swarm control and I also plan to clip the queen.Hopefully I can train the owners to help out in case of holidays and sickness,they are very keen. I may well take up your offer to pm you, many thanks.

 

[Finman]

.
Once I has two best hives on the top of the field hill. The field was summer rape.
Lots of hives were 500 m away in calmer valley, where winds went over hives and the valley slope was warm.
The hives in the valley brought 50% more honey than in open place. On top 70-90kg/hive, in the valley 120 - 150 kg/hive.

The edge of the forest and field is not good place. That I have seen many times. Wind pushes agains the forest wall and it protects only against one wind direction. In two direction, in side wind the edge is like wind tunnel. Third direction, crosswind is not better.

If the pasture is windy, I do not put hives there at all. Best are small scale landscape where protected corners make warm microclimates to the plant to make nectar and warm places bees to forage.
I have such areas, that I have opportunity to select my pastures, but it is not easy job to do it every year.

But after all, good looking pastures depend on other beekeepers, how much place already have foraging bees. But it is easy to see, how dense is bee amount in flowers.
.

 

[Thymallus]

Hi there.

Ignore Finman. I keep bees on two rooftops in Central Manchester - the cathedral and a commercial building.

With no choice available I can see that one has to live with all the problems associated with a roof top site compared to a conventional ground level apiary.
If you had a choice though, would you choose a normal apiary site for your hives or do you think having hives on rooftops is an advantage?

 

[Frenchie]

Just a quick update; weather here has been up and down,but last 2 weeks have been settled and very hot. My strongest colony in the garden, surrounded by farmers fields has filled the spare space in the brood box with stores and just moved into the super. The slightly smaller colony on the roof of the mill in the centre of town has filled all spare space in the brood box, filled a super and is now working on the 2nd super. Happy days.