Overhanging trees in apiaries

[jenkinsbrynmair]

- You are well behind on world famous recent change to meaning of word 'Fact'.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Yes of course they do live in a variety of cavities. The point I was trying to make was that bees have evolved over millions of years to live in tree hollows, and tree hollow nest = shade. So for anyone to suggest that shade is somehow bad for a bees nest doesnt make any sense to me. I am not saying that they dont also do well if a hive is in sun.

Maybe there is some research out there which makes an objective comparison.

For quite a few years we had a wild colony (as Seeley said, all bees are wild - even the ones in hives, none have been domesticated) living in the wall of an old 18th century chapel I care for - they had found space behind a gravestone set into a West facing wall which was in all day shade due to a massive yew tree growing a few feet in front of it, the only time any sunlight hit the entrance was for a brief period, late evening in mid summer. It was pure bad luck that caused their demise. We would always check (me and my mother's cousin who was also a beekeeper)to see if they'd survived the winter around palm Sunday, I think it was the spring of 2013, and the bees were going well, then we had that second cold snap giving us a long damp and cold wintery spring - obviously the bees had depleted winter stores (I was spring feeding all my colonies, something I never usually do) and no opportunity to top up on spring forage, and they never made it past May.

 

[HEver]

Chickens

Hi, I'm advising a friend who is thinking about taking up beekeeping about where to put bees in her garden which has lots of different areas. I've heard people say you should not have your hives under overhanging trees but I've often seen beehives in pictures and while I've been out and about amongst trees. Her garden has lots of areas where I think it would be appropriate to put the bees except they are in wooded areas. What problems does this present, or have I just got this wrong? Maybe one overhanging branch is more than a problem that a bit of a covering. I appreciate they need to get sunlight. What are others thoughts? Thanks

Oh and also can you put them in with chickens?

I have my hive facing out chickens about 10 meters away. There have been absolutely no problems so far and I have had days when it has been thunder storms and the bees have been very unhappy, so it should be ok. I havn't seen a hive closer than that however. Let me know what you decide and whether it does effect the chickens - would be interested to see. As for tress, mine is in the open so not sure, sorry. Have fun.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I have my hive facing out chickens about 10 meters away. There have been absolutely no problems so far and I have had days when it has been thunder storms and the bees have been very unhappy, so it should be ok. I havn't seen a hive closer than that however. Let me know what you decide and whether it does effect the chickens - would be interested to see. As for tress, mine is in the open so not sure, sorry. Have fun.

Regarding chickens, my long hive is approximately 2' from the chicken run on two sides with the entrance facing the run. I do have some debris netting on the chicken wire that side to stop egg collecting interfering with bee flight paths.
There has never been a problem but I could believe that if the hive got stroppy there could be conflict.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

For quite a few years we had a wild colony (as Seeley said, all bees are wild - even the ones in hives, none have been domesticated) living in the wall of an old 18th century chapel I care for - they had found space behind a gravestone set into a West facing wall which was in all day shade due to a massive yew tree growing a few feet in front of it, the only time any sunlight hit the entrance was for a brief period, late evening in mid summer. It was pure bad luck that caused their demise. We would always check (me and my mother's cousin who was also a beekeeper)to see if they'd survived the winter around palm Sunday, I think it was the spring of 2013, and the bees were going well, then we had that second cold snap giving us a long damp and cold wintery spring - obviously the bees had depleted winter stores (I was spring feeding all my colonies, something I never usually do) and no opportunity to top up on spring forage, and they never made it past May.

"Never usually". JB I'm ashamed of you

 

[Ian123]

Opinion rather than fact

Lol it may well be opinion but the opinion is based on results. It is however factual that those exposed to more direct sun are drier and develop faster. It’s not uncommon to find brood areas up against the warmest wall and often on double nucs they’ll even use the heat from the neighbours sharing the partition. If you look at itld’s comments on poly hives he says bees in wooden boxes can start brooding earlier but are then out paced by the polys. So what are they using...obviously the suns warmth. As Murrox said bees have developed to live in cavities what the cavity is made out of appears to be of minor importance.

 

[Ian123]

Yes of course they do live in a variety of cavities. The point I was trying to make was that bees have evolved over millions of years to live in tree hollows, and tree hollow nest = shade. So for anyone to suggest that shade is somehow bad for a bees nest doesnt make any sense to me. I am not saying that they dont also do well if a hive is in sun.

Maybe there is some research out there which makes an objective comparison.

In a number of places around the world you will find as many or more bees in rock cavities than trees I can assure you.

 

[Swarm]

Yes of course they do live in a variety of cavities. The point I was trying to make was that bees have evolved over millions of years to live in tree hollows, and tree hollow nest = shade. So for anyone to suggest that shade is somehow bad for a bees nest doesnt make any sense to me. I am not saying that they dont also do well if a hive is in sun.

Maybe there is some research out there which makes an objective comparison.

Can honestly say I've never noticed a difference, I had bees under trees for years and there was no difference to the apiaries in the open. Some colonies were better than others, where ever they lived.

 

[Mandeville]

My hives are partially under a large horse chestnut tree. One hive doesn't get any sun until late afternoon and is always the last to get going in the morning.

But for a few days a couple of weeks ago the sun was reflected on to them from a window in my neighbour's house during the first half of the morning. They were all out flying vigorously until the sun moved off them, at which point they went back to sleep until after lunch.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I just thought I'd add this picture of one of my bait hives. Obviously the bees quite like to be in a shaded wood as I've just had the third swarm go into this in the last 2 months.

 

[Fritillary]

A lovely spot.
Your bait hive looks quite small to me - ?

I should think if you left that there throughout the year all sorts of creatures would be keen to move in!

 

[Newbeeneil]

A lovely spot.
Your bait hive looks quite small to me - ?

I should think if you left that there throughout the year all sorts of creatures would be keen to move in!

The box is 34 litres, 5 frames wide and about 400 mm deep, the swarms have varied from covering 2 frames to not being able to shut them in to move them!

When I took the top off last time I was greeted by probably 100 earwigs on the crown board.

 

[Fritillary]

I admit I was thinking of something bigger and more glamorous than earwigs!

 

[Newbeeneil]

I admit I was thinking of something bigger and more glamorous than earwigs!

It's only got a 25mm hole so unlikely to get anything really glamorous in it! I don't think a peacock would fit!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It's only got a 25mm hole so I don't think a peacock would fit!

Or any other kind of............
.....................ooh, is that my takeaway arriving?