Hive Location and Setup

Paul Kelly, research and apiary manager, explains how to select and set up a hive location.

For more videos, check out the University of Guelph's Honey Bee Research Centre youtube channel at this link:

For more work by David Borish Visuals, check out:

We would like to thank Québec beekeepers Marie-Hélène Majeau and Susan Kennerknecht for translating our videos into French. We are very grateful for their help with this project. (To view translation, click on settings then subtitles)

Nous aimerions remercier deux apicultrices du Québec, Marie-Hélène Majeau et Susan Kennerknecht pour la traduction de ces vidéos en français. Nous leur en sommes très reconnaissants. (Pour accéder à la traduction française, sélectionnez paramètres et ensuite sous-titres)

[graceanthony]

Thanks for all the useful tips especially those on wind and terrain for ease and mobility. Very good and informative video, you were clear and concise.

[crabmanbc]

Keep the videos coming! We enjoy your videos and look forward to seeing them. We review older ones when they are relevant to what we are doing here in North Georgia. Easy to understand and very efficient ways to manage bees, thank you.

[aspencedr]

thanks so much for producing this series, have my first nuc ordered, and looking forward to adding bees to our property in central Nova Scotia this spring, expect i'll rewatch most of these a few times over the next year or so.

[wesleysmith]

Thanks for your excellent videos. I am a new beek in Texas and we have some different conditions that I don't see you contending with as much (fire ants, red wasps, SHB, AHB). Still, your educational videos are immensely helpful to me and your approach to the work and setup is something to model.

[bradprather]

Again, thank you. For a third year backyard keeper this is a wonderful education. Can you shed some light on trimming around hives? I use an electric trimmer and work quickly, taking care not to linger. The bees don't really seem to be too bothered.

[framcesmoore]

Ha there been missing u folks when are u going to put more bee videos on this web u do such a wonderful job thanks

[jmjuanatey]

From Nicaragua, thanks for all those very helpful videos, i did learn a lot, are educational but specially friendly, I have seen all, and those videos will be my consultation reference "book". Thanks so much.

[daleenpieters]

Thanks for great videos. I am in South Africa and want to start beekeeping. We obviously have African honey bees. Spring here ise currently 95 degrees. Should I provide any shade for my hives? How do I keep them cool enough without them having to fan the hives all day?

[lourensklopper]

Thank you very much for your great videos!! I have questions?? If you put your hives in 2 hives, 3 groups, 6 How far are those hives apart(from middle to hive)? How far from those 6 hives can you start another group of 6? Ok now for the watersource? How can I give these bees water? Do I need to give every group of 6 hives there own water or can I put water out in the corners of my bee block? How do you keep ants out of your hives? My temperature is much different from yours. Here in South Africa I dont live in a place that get snow, but the temperature in winter is very cold, freezing. The water will freeze over night. How do I fix that or do I just leave till the sun warms that ice to water?

[bradgoliphant]

Hello again Paul, when I ask you earlier of your hive configuration, I was referring to how you thought best to stack your hives, like double deep brood and shallow supers.
I live in the NE. Do you find it better that beekeepers with cold winters for bees to be houses in double deep brood boxes?

[tyronedwards]

I understand thank you for the video 👍

[osirusj]

Nice videos... How to make sure the bees eat only certain flower and not others... Like how do I know which honey am I harvesting? And will the bees start stinging u if u don't have ppe suit?

[trinityhanes]

What type of paint do you use for the hives?

[ME-evzs]

I am a beginner of beekeeping and I have an option of two places to keep my bees

Where would you recommend rather I should place my bees?
One property where I have is completely full sun
And the second property where I have is completely full shade. where would you rather recommend?

[DawnieGTheBeekeeper]

My setup is similar. However, my entrances face oot not in. This means my work space is in your no-go zone area. Is it beneficial for them to be positioned in, or is it convenient?

[federicocaicedo]

Hello friends a great job ... I would like to know if you sell buckfast queens to South america ... thanks

[mschilepepper]

Question can you set up your bee hives in the middle of your garden ?

[billharold]

With single brood chambers do you need a hole near the top(of the brood box) and if so what size. I see them in some hives not sure if they are in all. Thanks

[zatnikatel]

My neighbour do have a swimming pool, however the location of my hives has a river north of it much more closer than the pools. (About maybe 50 feet compared to the pool 500 feet). What do you think think of the chance to end up in the pool?

[cheeseman]

The best way to give bees water is to get a little tub fill it with water then put marbles that are above the waters surface and pack them tightly together then the bees can get a drink without drowning.