Ted Fischer wrote:
>
>   REGARDING           Hive placement
>
> In a related post, Ted Wouk commented about Allen Dick's observation:
>
> >Allen Dick wrote:
> >Well, there are many reasons bees can become mean:
> >* Shade -- too cool a location
>
> "I'm not questioning the advice but pondering the local and book
> accepted advice of putting hives in the shade.  Is this a southern
> (warmer climate) exception.  Or is it a northern climate issue that
> since it's colder, you keep your hives in the sun.  I do know that when
> it gets really hot here in Texas the bees resort to fanning in huge
> numbers.  This may reduce honey production but I've never noticed an
> increase in defensive behavior when it's hot.  When it's cold I don't
> bother my hives.  I'm no authority on the matter but has anyone out
> there got some logic for this?"
>
> I'm not exactly in the far north (southeastern Michigan), but it does get down
> to about 10 below here at times in the winter, and usually stays below 95 in
> the summer, so I would say that our climate is pretty moderate.  Nevertheless,
> over the years I have noticed that my bees seem a whole lot more comfortable
> in the shade than in the sun.  I have gradually moved almost all my hives into
> wooded areas, or at least at the edge of wooded areas where they get shade
> most of the day.  My experience is that these bees are a much more
> industrious, do a lot less fanning because it is just not that necessary, and
> are also very productive.  I have not experienced any increase in
> aggressiveness due to the shade.  Occasionally I have an aggressive hive
> there, but the same may be true for a hive in the sun.  I attribute this
> entirely to the queen, and when she is replaced it is a different hive
> altogether.
>
> Another advantage to a shaded location is wind protection in the winter.  I
> have never wrapped my hives, and find that with an area protected by trees
> (evergreens are the best, naturally) wind speed is greatly cut down, allowing
> the bees to naturally conserve their heat more effectively.
>
> And, finally, I must add that a wooded placement hides the yard from vandals,
> who seem to find great pleasure in tipping over hives.
>
> Ted Fischer
When I started keeping bees I always tried to place my hives in the shade but as the
years went by it became evident that the hives with no shade or partial shade fared
better.  Less winter loss and no apparent loss of honey.  In fact the best producing
hives were in full sun.  Even trees without leaves provide shade and when a winter
thaw occurs the ground under trees remains frozen when all the sunny areas are thawed.
I do consider trees or brush for a windbreak when placing hives but stay away from
full shade.  Also hive bodies rot a lot faster in full shade.  Bees from hives in the
sun will be flying on warmer sunny winter days when the full shade hives do not venture
out.  Another problem I have had is that an ice storm breaks limbs on trees and fall
on hives and knock them over.  They don't like the chainsaw either when I cut up the
fallen limb for removal.  My advice for anyone in the Kansas-Missouri area is, don't
place hives under trees..
 
Vic Kroenke