> Saw a reference to the 4-packs used in Western Canada.  Is it basically a
> sturdy pallet, with two pairs of hives, facing opposite directions?  I
> think I have seen them illustrated in the journals.
 
Yes.  The floors are either set on grocery pallets (10" X 48") or built
right on the pallet.  We pick them up with forklifts and tote them around.
 
FWIW Andy told me some time back that he used to use pallets with the four
hives facing *in*.  You might ask him for more on this.
 
> If you have two colonies' entrances right next to each other (hives
> abutting), do you block any portion of the entrances (where they are
> adjacent), or do you just leave them open right across?
 
Leave them open right across.
 
> I have had bees in fairly close pairs, on stands.  Basically they had
> about 3 inches between the hives.  This was nice and compact (simple
> stands made of 2x4's), but I did notice that in the height of the summer,
> say during stormy weather or dearth, the bees would "beard"  on the hive
> fronts and hang in large clusters off the bottom board.  Nothing unusual,
> but upon closer inspection it would often turn out that the clusters of a
> pair of hives would be joined.  Bees would be running back and forth,
> some obviously alarmed, and I occasionally did see small piles of dead
> bees from resultant fighting.'
 
Our hives *touch* on some pallets, and share a divider, but I have never
noticed any fighting.  Here in Alberta, we can merge hives 'most any time
without conflict.
 
> Is this a concern, with the pallets, as well?  Could queens be killed
> this way?
 
Never heard of it.  In fact, while wintering, the winter lids (inner
covers) on the four hives that are crowded together sometimes get crooked
inside the wraps after a visit for feeding and the bees are able to go
from hive to hive (on foot).  All the hives seem to do fine.  Only if a
queen is poor or gone, do her bees wander over to the neighbours', it
seems.
 
> In some German photographs you can see apiaries of maybe 12 colonies all
> on one long stand, entrances right next to each other.  There is NO space
> between colonies.  I've often wondered if this becomes problematic.  On
> the other hand, it is probably a good, protective arrangement for
> wintering.
 
Exactly.  Some beekeepers here have long blankets made that cover 10 or
more hives in a row, with holes for top ventilation and flight.  As with
any row, though drifting can be a problem.
 
 
Allen Dick                                  VE6CFK
Rural Route One, Swalwell, Alberta  Canada T0M 1Y0
Internet:[log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask]
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