What works as a windbreak? I'm not on a farm, so having a bunch of straw bales around isn't really easy or ideal. I have a vinyl lattice fence surrounding my 10 x 10 beeyard, and it's about 3' from the back of my hives. Is that sufficient? My hives face east-northeast, so the backs open west-southwest (I use the SBB on top of a reversed solid BB). I'll get some straw bales and stack them up behind the hives if I have to (and compost the straw in the spring), but if the lattice or an entrance reducer in the gap is sufficient, I'd rather not buy them...especially since I don't have a clue where to do so. :)
I would think a lattice fence would be sufficient. Some people use snow fence and it probably only cuts the wind half as much.
I'd love to have a windbreak. I have never had one.
One windbreak is the shed, another is the house, another is the trees around the clearing and another is a chainlink fence about forty feet away. I think what you have is good. Probably along the same as I'll use in another yard.
i use a piece of lattice...it gets very windy here.
In florida there is no need for windbreaks , but a piece of privacy fence should work.
Here in SE Colorado it seems the wind never stops blowing. I dont know how we did not get the nickname "The Windy City." Anyway I have a privacy fence where the bees will be at, in the corner. It will protect them from the north and the west. A shed will protect them from the east and I have a chain link fence to the south that will hopefully be coverved in honeysuckle this summer. If needed I will make other wind breaks for them.
Sounds like I'm good to go. I had posted these pictures when I first could here, and it makes me laugh to see my little one-deep hives. The lattice is now totally covered in morning glories, but with frost the past two nights, I think their blooming days are over. I guess it's a few more than 3 feet, but it should be fairly protected back there.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=6865.msg62902#msg62902
my wind in the summer is no big deal. in the winter it's another story. the damaging and very cold wind comes from the east. i use plywood at an angle against the front (east) side of the hive. the bees can get out under and it also blocks snow and ice. last year i used bigger pieces and propped them against the top of the hive. then i realized that i was blocking the bit of winter sun that they might get on the hive in the morning. this year i have cut some smaller pieces and will put on some two piece hinges to attach them closer to the bottom of the hive. when i get around to finishing, i'll try to remember to post some picutre.......