I am a new beekeeper so I have learned a lot. I was wondering what I can do to help hold my hive down from the wind. It isn't up in the air,lol. I just don't want it to fall off the stand I have. I heard of putting a rock or brick on top. I was wondering if I can strap it down. I sorta want to leave it alone tho because I just hived the bees last Thursday and it hasn't been a week. If I do strap it the hive wouldn't affect the entrance. Thanks in advance for the advice.
You could put a cinder block on top the cover or possibly ratchet strap the hive to your stand depending on your set up of course. What is your set up?
...JP
A home made stand that can have two hives on it and has a space in the middle where 2 x4's stick out so that when inspecting I can rest the first frame in between the 2x4's and not on the ground. I want to strap it but will that disturbance affect the hive, because they have only been in there for four days.
yes I strap mine down with a rachet strap. Mostly from animals
It will only affect them if you remove the top covers and then strap them down. ;)
Seriously, it will not affect them.
...JP
We have wind storms every spring. Go ahead and strap away! Anyway you can...as soon as you can.
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/3259/currentnucs.jpg)
The telescopic lids blow off in a high wind without a brick. The migratory ones tend to stay on without one, but I'd put one on anyway. As far as actually blowing over, it takes about a 60 mph wind or more, which I get every now and then. Strapping might help then. The brick or weight won't hurt, but may not stop it from falling over.
Hive strapped. I waited til dark so they might not think much about it in the morning. Thanks everyone.