I started my first hive last year. It was so rainy the bees didn't get enough food before I realized I had to feed them. Then the queen must have died because their numbers dwindled throughout the summer, despite feeding. I get a new colony April 30th.
Here is my question- I had my bees on an almost flat roof of a porch room, second story, of a suburban home. I put them there because it is one of the sunniest spots I have, and it wouldn't disturb my neighbors who aren't used to bees. However, the roof is slanted so the hive needed to be leveled with a combination of concrete blocks and wood shims. I think there may have been too much air circulation through the hive, being on the roof and having a base with many holes.
Should I move the hive down to the garden, even through it wouldn't get as much sun? Should I build a better base for the hive so that it allows less circulation of air? I need to decide soon as the bees are coming and I don't want to have to move them off the roof after I install the colony.
Thanks for your help.
hello you cant remove your hive in the garden directly because if you do this working bees will go back in the roof. so if you want to remove your hive distance between hive and garden must be about 6-7 killometres. if you do this bees will not go back in the roof. how old are you? i would love to introduce to you well i am caucasian beekeeper live georgia republic own about 60 beehives. it means you are young in the beekeepin i am 20 years old and gaind a lot of experience in my fathers bee garden i was taught everything by my father i have good advice for you if you want to multiply your beehives. if you want to write me anything just email me on this mail:
my email
[email protected]mobile +99598 376725
Sincerely ilia
I'm almost 60 and happily married. But here is my question put differently-
I don't have any bees right now- they all died. I'm wondering if it was too cold and windy for them on the roof, and whether it would be better to have my new colony closer to the ground, even though they would have less sun. Maybe I could keep them on the roof if I built a wind break? I don't really know what a wind break is or how to build one. What are your thoughts? Thanks
I doubt it is a circulation issue. You should be fine on the roof. Well, the bees anyway ;)
If the queen died in the spring, then they would first have tried to raise a new queen, and that failing you probably would have ended up with a laying worker.
There may have been other things going on, but without a forensic hive-check it is almost impossible to tell.
If you have an experienced beekeepr in the area, it might do good to have her/him check out your setup. Or if you have pictures, post them and we can get a better answer as to if it is an appropriate are or not. I'd guess without pics that it would work fine and that something else took out the hive.
Rick
I agree with Scadsobees ,
I've never heard of 'to much air circulation' but it could be possible. Contact Join your local bee club. They know how your climate affects bees. And like Scads' said post images of your hive set up.
A hive up in a tree should be similar to a hive on the second story of a building. PLUS, it's never just One thing with bees.
What kind of roof? Shingles, cedar shake, tile, rubber or what? I dont know everything but I can tell you I would not put bees on any roof unless it was white PVC and even then I would worry about them roasting to death. If its ninety degrees it will be well over 100 degrees likely 110 or twenty a foot or two above a shingle roof. Touch the roof with your hand and you will get burned. I would not be surprised if they could not keep brood from over heating let alone them selfs many days depending on the roof material. I would put them in the garden myself.