Location and height of hive

[Ciaran]

Hi all. Complete novice getting ready to have a go at keeping bees. Main motivation is to improve pollination of a newly planted orchard. The orchard doubles as a home for free range hens. When I site the hive should I keep it well off the ground? In other words, are the hens likely to try and nan a bee at the opening when returning ... or perhaps the hens are not likely to be interested?

 

[Millet]

Hi all. Complete novice getting ready to have a go at keeping bees. Main motivation is to improve pollination of a newly planted orchard. The orchard doubles as a home for free range hens. When I site the hive should I keep it well off the ground? In other words, are the hens likely to try and nan a bee at the opening when returning ... or perhaps the hens are not likely to be interested?

The hens know fine well to steer clear of anything that stings well mine have for the past many years wasps/bumble bees the lot, regardless of that for me i prefare the floor of my hive just below my knees, that way they are comfortable to inspect and add more brood or super boxes.

 

[amigadave]

Yep, I agree with Millet, the hens know to ignore the bees. A hive in my garden is on a stand at about 50 cm height, so the landing board is out of chicken range (unless they decided it was a good idea to jump) and a good height for inspections. The chickens cheerfully walk around and under the hive, and don't seem at all bothered by the bees flying above their heads.

 

[Millet]

I have and still throw splattered and dead insects at the chickens and they love them, i have tried doing the same with dead bees and they turn away and ignore them, with my chooks the only bees they eat are pupae drone brood but they are still cautious, maggots no bother evolution is a weird old thing.

 

[MartinL]

. . . . . . . Main motivation is to improve pollination of a newly planted orchard. . . . .are the hens likely to try

What about a Top-bar hive?

Kill two birds with one stone!

Too high for the chucks to reach.
Don't need infinite funds for equipment??

 

[Zante]

Don't go for guinea fowl though. I have seen two gorging themselves bees straight from the hive entrance.
Glad they weren't mine. Needless to say the owner, as soon as he was informed, rehomed the guinea fowl to the freezer.

 

[NickDub]

The main considerations for siting a hive are :-

a) access for the bee-keeper - honey is heavy, lifting stuff from awkward places is a risk for your back
b) keeping bees away from flying in to other people - getting friends family and neighbors stung is not popular - bees fly up usually, so netting screens in front of hives can force them over head height, in some less than ideal locations
c) a bit of space for expansion - one hive is a tricky proposition usually - best to plan for at least two, unless you are cooperating with a neighboring keeper.
d) some way of controlling any grass other plants near by - you can mow round hives wearing a bee-suit and veil, but this gets old quickly on hot days.

 

[Ciaran]

Thanks all

Thanks for the replies. I've gone with a plinth/platform built-up to knee height and sized for 4 hives. Starting though with one hive, of course

 

[Millet]

Thanks for the replies. I've gone with a plinth/platform built-up to knee height and sized for 4 hives. Starting though with one hive, of course

Knee height is a good gauge imo as folk are all different heights and require different height hive stands for comfort of work, it's no good giving a specific heights as we get midgets and 2metre Pete for example, on the number of hives two is better than one in case you encounter any problems with one of them ,if you have two or more you can move things about and hopefully pull safe, however for every hive if you have a spare empty one is also handy, its never ending..

 

[enrico]

Got four supers on a double brood box and finding it quite hard to lift the top one off now!

 

[Nige.Coll]

Easiest way I have found to save a beekeepers back is to set the height so your inside leg measurement is the height of the crownboard. Works for me. Low hive stands are a back killer.