Overhanging trees in apiaries

[Levitt53]

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?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Got more than one apiary under overhanging trees - not an issue as long as they are not in perpetual gloom.
as for chickens - same caveat as urban garden hives really , fine until something goes wrong. did have one nuc just a few feet from the chicken run and one day, they just went berserk - lost three hens.

 

[madasafish]

Our Association Apiary faces South-- approx 3 meters under the edge of the tree canopy line.. Bees been there for at least 30 years with no issues.. I have a hive under a plum tree...no problems.


I knew someone who kept bees on the roof of his hen coop... he had to shut the hens in when the bees were in a strop...or the chickens were attacked...

 

[Popparand]

I have four hives at the edge of a small wood. No problem with overhanging branches except for the filthy mess on the hive roofs from pigeons.

 

[enrico]

Face towards the mid morning sun is my only advice. It gets them going early!
E

 

[StephenT]

I've got two of my hives under trees and near chickens and no bother so far. They get some good morning sun there and so no shade issues. To stop the bees and chickens taking over the whole garden we have crammed them in a bit but the plastic sheeting on the side of the chicken run keeps the bees out and the chickens soon learn not to loiter at the front of a hive.

 

[Levitt53]

Ok thanks all. That's good to know. She has a perfect little wooded are that wouldn't need to be mowed so that's likely to be where I would advise her to put them. Away from the chicken also.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Both of my BKA apiaries are in woodland with dappled shade. As long as they can see light at the edge of the woods they are happy.

 

[MerryBee]

When people tell me that hives should be in the sun, I like to remind them where bees would make a natural nest - in an old hollow tree. And where do you find old hollow trees?

 

[madasafish]

When people tell me that hives should be in the sun, I like to remind them where bees would make a natural nest - in an old hollow tree. And where do you find old hollow trees?

Hives should - in my view - have sun part of the day.

In winter we have days where parts of the garden which never see the sun in winter can be frozen for days at a time...
Unless bees like freezing in winter, I would suggest hives which get some sun would use less stores - at the very least.

 

[Finman]

When people tell me that hives should be in the sun, I like to remind them where bees would make a natural nest - in an old hollow tree. And where do you find old hollow trees?

What ever, but hives do well in the sunny spot.

Britain id not too hot around the year. Perhaps some periods are warm, but not too hot.

 

[Finman]

When people tell me that hives should be in the sun, I like to remind them where bees would make a natural nest - in an old hollow tree. And where do you find old hollow trees?

That is true. The beehive cannot hang in the air. But that proves nothing. In modern beekeeping.

Only when you put hives in sun and others in half shadow, you see which hives do better than others. Simply the honey yield is better in sun. Bees wake up earlier and stop working later.

Chalkbrood is more common in half shadow

 

[Ian123]

Yes hives do well in the sun and bait hives are far more attractive in the sun. Those in sunny spots are drier in the spring and build faster FACT!

 

[MerryBee]

My hives on the edge of woodland get plenty of winter sun as there are no leaves on the trees until April.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Yes hives do well in the sun and bait hives are far more attractive in the sun. Those in sunny spots are drier in the spring and build faster FACT!

Opinion rather than fact

 

[user 6228]

Hives should - in my view - have sun part of the day.

In winter we have days where parts of the garden which never see the sun in winter can be frozen for days at a time...
Unless bees like freezing in winter, I would suggest hives which get some sun would use less stores - at the very least.

But in a tree hollow they wouldnt be freezing

 

[Richard Elder]

Do bees not also set up home in chimneys, wall cavities, holes in rockfaces etc.? In fact any cavity whether its a tree or not.

 

[Fritillary]

Opinion rather than fact

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

 

[MerryBee]

Do bees not also set up home in chimneys, wall cavities, holes in rockfaces etc.? In fact any cavity whether its a tree or not.

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.

 

[Murox]

Honey bees evolved to use cavities of all sorts - caves, rock cavities and hollow trees and they have preferences of volume size and entrance height from the ground and no doubt others as well.