ive heard that the hives should be facing east..... but i see hives all over that are facing every witch way... the ones that are on pallets are back to back so sombodys not facing east :) old wise tale or some dont care???? yall have a good 1
We have ours facing different directions. Some facing north. we don't see any difference in production. only other thing is when the hive gets the sun. I've noticed the longer it takes for the hive to get the sun the longer it takes for them to get warmed up and moving on cooler mornings.
It's recommended but not necessary. Two reasons I have heard to do it:
1. The sunlight will hit the hive entrance at first light and get the bees moving sooner.
2. Wind is less prone to blow into the hive entrance.
You should do whatever you need to do in order to make your hive location(s) convenient for YOU.
From Mr. Bush's website: http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#locating
I like facing mine to the south but like you said when on pallets they all can't face that way.
In many cases even if you have to face the hive other than south the bees will still come and go from the hive from the south once they're a foot or 2 away from the entrance, then they orientate on that. I Once turn all my beehives facing east so the very first rays of sun could light up the entrances--the bees continued to arrive and leave to the south once a short distance from the hive entrance. During a Flow the whole thing because such a bother I turned all the hive back to facing south and the traffic congestion as alleviated immediately.