I'm going to be starting my first hive in approx. 2 weeks. I would like to get some advise on a, for the lack of a better name, flight disrupter. I attended a small presentation at a flower show on bees. He had 2 hives but in front of his hives he had 2 poles a certain distance apart with fence stretched across. He explained that when his bees took flight from the hive the bees would fly up and over the fence, cause the bees don't like to fly thru objects, and this would take them above peoples heads to keep people out of the beeline. I am thinking of doing this due to the fact that I live in a residential area where bees are probably not allowed and I don't need any complaints by people in the area. My neighbors are alright with it due to me talking to them. If this is a good idea, 1. How far apart should the poles be? 2. How high should the fencing be? and 3. How far in front should the fence be from the front of the hive?
Also, when I get my bees, I understand about taking the 2 center frames out first before dumping bees. Should I dump the bees into the large bottom super and then place the medium super on, or leave the medium on and dump the bees in the medium?
I thank anyone for advice and appreciate everyones interest
I am fairly inexperienced but from what I have read you should install the bee's in the bottom box and not place the second body until they have started filling the bottom one.
On the flight obstruction you just want to make sure the bees will have to be high enough to be above where the people will be so height will depend on distance (ie closer the bees will leave at a sharper angle so will be higher sooner)
I am sure more experienced bee keepers will respond but here are my two cents worth
Put the super away until the bees have 7 or 8 frames drawn and covered in the bottom box. The barrier can be anything. A fence, an outbuilding, a bush, etc. Just something to get them up 6 ft. or more so they clear anyone walking by.