I have had conflicting advice on hive placement here in central PA. One guy recommended pretty much full sun, and one advised morning sun/afternoon shade. Will full sun be harmful for the bees if they have a screened bottom board and top entrance for air flow? It's in the high 80's with high humidity right now.
Mine are in a lot of shade and they seem to be doing very well. I started the season with one hive about the size of a nuc in one deep HB. They got off a little slow then took off. I put a second deep on and they had it full of nectar very quickly. I just added a super on Friday and will be checking it tomorrow and will let you know how they are doing with it.
My other 5 hives are in the same shade but were started from packages and a swarm recently so cant really say how good they are doing right now but will let you know tomorrow I will take a few pics of the apiary too to show how much shade they have.
Addition:
I am going to cut some trees back soon but they seem to be doing well with this set up right now.
(http://secondfast.com/bees//albums/userpics/thumb_Apiary_2.jpg)
Click to enlarge! (http://secondfast.com/bees//displayimage.php?pos=-75)
I would go with morning sun,"as early as posible", If you have a place where the sun can hit as soon as it starts throwing a shadow. Let the dapple shade creep in around 1 to 2 pm. You don't want full shade any length of time. Ventilation is important. But if you create a situation that causes moisture to linger, that is bad. Been there done that.
doak
Full Sun, early morning sun is important.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
I just moved a hive which was in more shade than sun so that it could get more sunlight. I've seen workers on two occasions carry out brood that looked like chalkbrood, and I wanted that hive to have a better chance for good health, so I voted for more sun. My hives all get only 1/2 day of sun, however.
Linda T in Atlanta
I'm with Tillie for the same reason.
kirko
You get more honey, less chaulkbrood, less Varroa and by all accounts, less SHB in full sun. They are much easier to work in the shade. The bees don't care.
I've got mine in full sun.Bees are up early and out late!
My beeyard is situated to receive the sunrise uninterrupted till about noon, dappled sunlight till 1pm, full shade for the rest of the day. I think they like the arrangement :-D
My hives get dappled sun until about 1 pm, then full sun until 5 or 6. It's not ideal, but I don't want to keep the hives in my front yard, which would only give them full sun from noon to 6 or so anyway.
I have my 2 hives on top of a very hot and sunny knoll. They made it through 105's temperatures last summer, with no problems. (I had the problem of worrying about them frying up there) They drank more water, but that was all.
They did extremely well, although they bearded a lot a night. Now I have better ventilation for them, with a screened bottom board totally open, and a ventilated inner cover.
Annette
All sun is better than all shade. I have two I've got to move, about 80%shade.
doak