Q: "How do I set up a new hive when I get them home?"
A: There are many options for stands and location, but once on the stand, pull the plug and let them fly.
Shade is helpful, but use caution... Hive Beetles prefer the shade also, so we monitor their presence and if we see more than 15-20 during a hive check, we may need to take action.
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However, being in the shade helps the bees conserve energy, so keeping strong colonies is normally all that is needed to keep beetle populations in check. A strong colony can manage the a small beetle population by keeping them cornered in the spaces above the frames, just below the inner cover/top cover. Visit the Hive Beetles / Worms page for more on this topic.
As "hive stands" are concerned, there are many options and basically anything will work that provides a semi level flat surface that gets the hive up off the ground a foot or two. This protects the base from water damage and from getting dirt and debris splashed on the boxes and bottom boards during a hard driving rain.
Adding mulch to the area around the stand will help with weed/grass control and make it easy to include any type of ant control if ever needed.
Get creative and think about what "look" will fit your area best. Are the bees in a location that looks is not a concern and not seen much? Like out at the ranch, or perhaps the bees will be easily seen from your back porch and require more of a decorative look. Frankly, the bees don't care as long as they are not getting wet.
You can keep things simple and go with something low maintenance and inexpensive, like the concrete blocks shown in the image above, or you can get something like the painted metal stands shown in the image at the top of this page.
The blocks are a solid option and will last a very long time without any maintenance. For about $10 you can stack two sets a few inches apart and find a nice level spot or maybe add a little fill dirt of gravel to an area to level the ground if needed.
FAQs & How To Info - Click here for the List of Topics
Please keep in mind that most beekeeping questions are best answered and provided as a general guideline rather than absolutes.
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