Last year I purchased used bee hives. I am planing to get them ready for next summer by painting them and fixing them up. My question is where should they be placed? Is there any special distance that they should be kept away from the house? I have pasture ground on the east side of my home, beyond that there are some woods. I was thinking of having them about 50 yards from the house. There is also a berry patch I am starting to the east so I would be in the area on occasion. Any thoughts would be helpful.

Tom S.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), May 06, 2001

Answers

Personally, I would put them closest to where you want them to 'work'. I know the fruit farmers around here space them throughout their orchards. Are they to pollinate the berries?? Put them close to there... If they are working in the gardens, too, then put them in between...

read somewhere that they are supposed to be at least 50 feet from the house, but I don't know if that's true... I don't have any, as I am allergic.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), May 07, 2001.

if you bought themn used,, make sure you scorch the insides well,, to kill any bacteria, mold, fungus, ect

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), May 08, 2001.

Ours are about 100 feet from the house, maybe a little more. But we've never had any problems from having them so close, except when my husband has supers in the house for extracting -- then the bees flock around the (usually open) windows trying to come in. I recommend doing your extracting someplace other than in the house!! They should have a windbreak, some southern exposure, water nearby, and don't put anything directly in front of the hives that will require you to work there (garden, etc.). Usually you can work behind the hives or off to one side with no problem, but in front you will be in their flyway, and they don't detour! And, yes, do torch your used hives (sterilize by scorching) or you risk transmitting disease.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 09, 2001.

The above advice is great, but I'd like to add that you should make sure they have a source of water near the hives that you don't mind them using. If they don't have a good source of water (a pond or small pool), they may opt for stock tanks, or your swimming pool, or some equally inconvenient wet place! I know beekeepers who keep their hives right against their houses with no problems. Mine are in my orchard which is right next to my garden and berry patch, which is right next to the pond, so we're all happy and they're busy! They are out of the normal household traffic pattern, but are close by (I would guess they are about 50 feet from the house). If you have horses, keep the bees away from them and don't work the bees in clothes that you've just been working with the horses in. In general bees don't bother livestock, but they seem to have a disliking for horses. Have fun with them!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), May 09, 2001.

Try to locate the hives at least ten feet apart to minimize "drifting". Drifting occurs when bees from one hive drift gradually to an adjoining hive with a better smelling queen. Place the hives at random. Also, place them where they will get as much sun as possible. The entrance should face from due south to somewhat southeast. The sooner the hive and entrance are warmed by the morning sun, the sooner they will be out and about collecting nectar. Make sure the hive is not in a hollow where cold air will settle. Near the top of a rise, but not too exposed to wind, is best. Place the hives on concrete blocks to get them off the ground. Placing them next to the south face of a building is not a bad idea since the building will reflect the sun's heat and keep them warmer. Overhanging eaves will also help shelter the hive. Make sure you give them at least 20 feet of free area in front for their flight path. If you place them north of a driveway, you can erect a six foot barrier between the hive and drive to force them to fly up and over passing vehicles. Neighbors typically do not enjoy bees inside their cars. Don't worry about trying to get them right next to the nectar sources. Honey bees will easily forage up to two miles from the hive and under extreme circumstances can forage up to five miles away, so one side or the other of your property is of no consequence to them.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), May 12, 2001.