Entrance

[kattz]

 I'm Getting ready to set up my new hive and I've heard it should face east, any truth or does it really matter?......Thanks

[bassman1977]

I don't have the book in front of me but I believe Beekeeping for Dummies recommends this.  The purpose is that it keeps the entrance out of the wind.  If this is the case, then if you were to create an artificial wind block then it shouldn't matter.  Others will chime in before I get a chance to check my sources.

[Robo]

Morning sun on the entrance gets them flying earlier.

[Keith13]

I too have read that an east facing position is ideal. some of the reasons are that the sun lights up the hive earlier. by doing this the bees are out foraging earlier. this gives them more time before the sun has a chance to dry up the nectar from the flowers the bees are feeding on.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#locating

[Brian D. Bray]

I'm Getting ready to set up my new hive and I've heard it should face east, any truth or does it really matter?......Thanks

Yes, east is best, southeast next, then south and so on arround the compass--north is the worst.  One important factor is prevailing winds.  Due to how the wind whips through the hills around my house I have had to change the hive entrances back to facing directly south as the bees come and go from that direction regardless which direction the hives are faced.