Should beehives be close together?

So, how close should you place your beehives to each other? It is recommended to place your hives at least two feet apart. This is no hard and fast rule, but it does make it easier for inspecting your hives and if you agitate one hive, you're less likely to agitate the other hives if they're not located close together.

How close can beehives be placed together?

You can space a pair of hives as close to six inches from each other, but you need several feet of space around one or two sides in order to move equipment around as you're working the hives. Know what predators (man or beast) are in your area and what protection your bees will need.

Can you have 2 bee hives next to each other?

You can have two colonies right next to each other and get completely different outcomes. One might thrive and make lots of honey right away, while the other remains small and stagnant.

Can two bee hives live together?

From a beekeeper's perspective, the primary benefit to two-queen colonies is increased honey production. By having two prolific queens laying simultaneously, the total colony population can reach over 100,000 bees, while the population of a single-queen colony generally tops out around 60,000 bees.

When should I combine hives?

One hive is weak: Combining hives can be done if one hive is weak and the other is strong. If the weak hive has a queen, you'll need to dispatch her before combining. You will want to keep the stronger hive on the bottom and put the weak hive on top, using the strong hive's location.

Hive Placement

How many bee hives should I have?

Most new beekeepers should not begin with more than 3-4 hives. However, 1 person could manage many more beehives with a lot of time to spare. I once had 26 but I don't recommend it. The best number of hives for your apiary may be different than that of a friend.

What happens if you put two queens in one hive?

Although we are taught that two queens can't survive in one hive, it happens frequently. It occurs most often when a supersedure cell hatches while the original queen is still alive. The virgin daughter hatches, mates, and begins to lay eggs right alongside her mother.

Should beehives be in sun or shade?

The hive should be placed in early morning sun. This gets the bees out of their hive earlier in the day to forage. In the Northeast, hives can remain in the full sun for the entire season. However in places with warmer climates, hives should receive some afternoon shade.

Which direction should beehives face?

Face the hive entrance away from the prevailing winds. Ideally, face the entrance in a southerly direction if you're in the northern hemisphere and northerly direction for the southern hemisphere.

How far from your house should a beehive be?

Even though each case is different, we can use some general estimates of a safe distance to be from the hive. For a honey bee colony with a calm temperature, give yourself at least 4 feet of clearance behind the hive and on each side if possible. At the hive entrance, an area of 25 feet is the best minimum.

How high should my beehive be off the ground?

While this is heavily dependant on your stature, an ideal height for a hive stand is approximately 18in off of the ground. Unless you are 6'5", this height will be ideal for working your hives without destroying your back.

What do you put under a beehive?

The ground under and hives should be kept weed free. Some people place the hives on mulch, wood chips and even carpet remnants. I added a layer of wood chips to the ground where the hives would be located. I placed two cinder blocks per hive on the ground, one in the front and one in the back.

Where is the best place to site a beehive?

Most sources will tell you that your hive should:

• Face southeast or east.
• Have direct morning sun and light afternoon shade.
• Be protected from high winds.
• Should sit on level, firm, dry ground.
• Should have a nearby water source.

Do you have to split bee hives?

It's best to split the hive when it's getting very full. The bees will begin preparing to make another queen and you will know this by finding queen cells in your hive. To properly split a hive, you should add a frame with one of these queen cells to a new hive box.

How do you strengthen a weak bee colony?

In the weak hive, take frames with bees and shake them into the strong hive. After you are done with each frame, place the inner cover on the hive. Repeat this process until all the bees from the weak hive have been placed in the “strong hive”.

How long does it take to combine hives?

The Easiest Way to Combine Your Hives

This acclimation process takes about 2-3 days. Our favorite method for combining hives is the newspaper method. We like this method because it's by far the easiest and most effective method for combining hives (hence the reason we teach it to all of our beekeepers).

How many brood boxes Should a hive have?

With two brood boxes, there is enough space for your queen to lay as many eggs as she can. This means you won't need to check your hives as often.

How many supers should a hive have?

As a rule of thumb, you should expect to need three supers for each hive. When inspecting the hive, remember that nectar takes up three times the space of processed honey. Beekeepers should allow extra space for this early in the season. The supers are usually left on the hive until the end of the season.

How much honey will one hive produce?

A typical beehive in the United States can produce anywhere from 10 to 200 pounds of honey in a year. That is an unbelievably large range, which indicates just how critical these variables are in order for a beehive to reach peak honey production.

How many times a year can you harvest honey?

In a healthy, productive hive, it is normal to be able to harvest honey two to three times each season. Most beekeepers will harvest honey between June and September, but how often you harvest and how much honey you get will depend on a number of factors.

Can I split a first year hive?

Don't split a first year hive. Such a hive will need all the honey it can get to make it through the winter. Don't put it at risk. Consider only 2nd year (or later) colonies as candidates for splits.

Can I mow around my beehive?

In most cases, you can mow right up to the edge of a beehive, as long as you don't bump it with the mower. This is definitely a time to read your bees' behavior, though; if they start taking an interest in you when you are 15 or 20 feet away, it would be wiser to back off.

Do bees need a landing board?

Landing boards and wee porches are unnecessary for honey bees. Nevertheless, the subject is polarizing. Some beekeepers swear by them, others hate them.