Hive placement

[Steve4548]

So my bees come this week. I am having a tough time picking a place for them. I have six acres in NE ct.

My house is the new construction in the back against the water. Behind me is the pond and an old rail trail maintained by the state and heavily walked on.

My considerations. I have a two year old so my immediate lawn is out. But I do own the property ( now reclaimed and vegetated )sand pit to the left. And the abandoned house I share the driveway with. I do not want to cause a stir with pedestrian traffic. More my visitors.

Currently thinking where my drive enters my yard to the left. Will traffic in my driveway bother them?  Also what heading is best to fave the opening. Thanks everyone. Pic is three years old

[tbonekel]

My thought would be to place them on the sw side of the tree line that runs down to the left of your house. Face the entrances to the wsw and place them closer to the water than the house. And I would try to put them in as full sun as possible. But I bet there will be some other opinions as well. Good luck getting them all hived up and congratulations!

[Steve4548]

Thanks. My worry is that is shaded till 9-10 am some say that's too late

[Slowmodem]

The pond will be a good source of water.  Bees will fly 2 or 3 miles to forage.  So what you need to do is consider what will be convenient for you.  You need to consider you'll be carrying supers to the extractor or other work area, and you'll be carrying equipment and woodware from the storage area to the hives.  You meed to be able to get to them with a truck or tractor or whatever.  Make it easy on yourself.

Good luck!

[Bamabww]

Wherever you can get the most sunshine on the hive is where I'd choose. Mine have done really well since moving them into almost all day sunshine. Good luck.

[apisbees]

entrance facing south or south-east. Which direction are the prevailing winds blow from in winter? if the bees are fifty feet or more from the walking trail the pedestrian will be fine walking past as they will be outside their defensive territory as long as nothing else is agitating them. the bees will fly for water as they do for nectar and pollen so closer to the pond is not necessary. Air drainage, if the pit is a hole and the moist dew sits in the bottom and takes most of the day to warm and evaporate off, the pit bottom may not be the best place to put the hives. We don't know how your area is for winter wind and air drainage but I have mentioned a few things to keep in mind when choosing a spot. the bees don't need to be that far from the house neither. If your kids step on a bee in the grass while the bee was foraging the distance the hive was away is not a factor. most hives are only aggressive while they are being disturbed so if the are clear for 50 ft you should not have any problem.

[Steve4548]

Thanks for the help everyone

[iddee]

Where your driveway splits and the left leg ends at a building. If that were my building, it would become a bee supply storage area and the hives would be 20 to 30 feet straight behind it facing south to east.

[Steve4548]

It is my property. The house and that is the garage for it. Currently my shed space.  I could build a shelter for the wind when fall comes around. The house is boarded up. (Swarm trap)