Hi Y'all Newbie from Kentucky here

[SchmidtsFarm]

Hello everyone! Nice to meet you fine folks. I'm Stacey, raised in the city....moved to the country. I couldn't be happier living my old fashion life. My neighbors call me Elly Mae not sure if it was a compliment but I will take it as one. My Husband and I bought 12 acres back in 2011. We started out with just two roosters and two goats. We now have (taking deep breath) 26 chickens, 8 goats, 2 cats, two dogs, and a turtle named Ralph. This month we will be adding our first hive. I am super excited! I suppose I have watched almost every video and called every Beek in my area trying to learn as much as possible. One of those fine people said I needed to come meet y'all so here I am.
One question I have had and tend to get very different answers is "What does the ideal bee spot look like?"  My place is 8 acres of woods and creeks and the other 4 acres is open with 2 ponds. I want the bees to be happy with their new real estate.

Many Thanks,
Stacey
Schmidt's Farm

[tefer2]

Welcome Stacey, glad you found us here at the forum.
I like plenty of sun and landmarks that stand out. Water close by is an added bonus.
We like to be able to drive a vehicle close by to service them also.

[SchmidtsFarm]

Thanks tefer2! I have a place out by the pond that gets pretty good sun. Do you put down a platform to sit hive on?

[tefer2]

We like them off the ground to deter the ants and skunks.
You can put down some cement blocks or a wood pallet for them to set on.
Just goggle hive stand images, there will be some idea's for you folks.  :bee:

[mikecva]

Welcome to the forum and bee keeping. :cheer:

Try to avoid getting to close to a flood area or places that deer and bears like to drink. If you include you location in your profile we can help you better. If you have not done so already, look into putting your land into Farn use to reduce your taxes.  -Mike

[AllenF]

Welcome to the forum.

[hardwood]

Glad you're here Stacey!

Scott

[Joe D]

They should be happy there, Stacey.  They will have water close, and as far as the rest of the real estate, bee will go up to 3 miles in every direction if they have to for nectar, not that they will have to.  I like to have something that will help knock the cold wind off of them in the winter.  Most people like them out in full sun, I am in the deep south, I have mine under a roof.  I have been told I am crazy, but not by anybody here.   Yet anyway.   Good luck to you and your bees.




Joe

[Sunnyboy2]

Welcome Stacy.  Please take the following with grain os salt as this is my second (I round up) year with bees.  Most of what I think comes from 1) books, 2) Michael Bush web pages, 3) this forum 4) YouTube.

1). A site relatively close to water ( water that will not bring conflict with people, ie a pool).  2). A sunny spot with good morning light, more dappled light in afternoon, ESP in warm area 3) an area with good mix of nectar sources in two mile radius, 4) place easy to get to to work and inspect, 5) place safe from vandals and or problem animal pests, 6) legal considerations from local laws.

That is the balancing list I came up with when I was looking for a spot.

Good luck with your girls.

[Intheswamp]

Welcome to the forum, Stacey.  It sounds like you're setting down roots and have picked a nice spot! :)

As others have stated...the bees will forage out well beyond your property lines.  Figuring a mile radius your bees will have 2000 acres to forage.  If they need to, they will travel 2 or 3 times that far but the further they travel the lower the efficiency is in time, energy(nectar), and wear and tear on their bodies.  It sounds like you have some great water sources. 

I use four cement blocks per hive...I carefully level two blocks while trying not to disturb the soil beneath too much...I say level, but they have a bit of a forward slope to them to help condensation run off the top cover towards the front of the hive so that it doesn't drip down on the cluster during winter.  After I get those two cement blocks leveled like I want them I place the other two blocks on top of them.  Using two blocks gets the bottom entrance a little higher up and hopefully will help make the hives less attractive to skunks, though I think I'm going to use some rolls of chicken wire placed in front of the hives to better protect them.

Are you planning on having the goats fenced off from the bee hives?  I have never kept goats but know that they can be curious about things. :)

Best wishes,
Ed

[Georgia Boy]

Hey Stacey,

My kinfolk are from western Kentucky a place called Long Hollow in Trigg county and Louisville.

Just want to say welcome.

I built my out of 4x4's and 2x4's. It keeps them 19 inches off the ground and I placed them in the morning through afternoon sun but shades them in the late afternoon. Wanted to give them time to cool off before sunset.

Good luck

David