Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[montana-bees]

[font=georgia][size=12pt][/size][/font]We have a complete kit that has arrived at local store. Italian bees arriving in last week April - First Week May. Our question: We have 1.05 acres in USDA Zone 4A. How close to the fence can the bees be because of Broadwater County mosquito spray truck which drives by on west and south property lines. Also, we have a line of Siberian Pea Tree hedges that are planted in North to South lines with 8 feet between them. I was thinking of putting the bee hive there, but that is only 178 feet from the west road that the mosquito spray truck drives on. The other choice, the north fence and the east fences on the border between a neighbor on the north that has around 1 acre and a neighbor on the east that has two acres. These two areas would be well away from mosquito spraying but there is no shelter from the wind at all. --- Also another topic, being, how much and how close can one be to a hive when cutting wood with a chain saw, cutting grass or wees with a gasoline mower or a gasoline trimmer??? ----Now another topic: Wife wants to paint the hives in pastel colors, and probably preponderance of yellow. Are colored hive boxes good, and if so, what paint can one use on them. I was thinking of using linseed oil on the bottom platform that the new hives came with since it is only bare wood and softwood at that. Any suggestions on any of these questions before our bees arrive would be appreciated.

[zaunreiter]

I strongly recommend to pu those as far away from the spraying as is possible. I would choose the east fence and make some artificial windbreak. Put some willow twigs into the ground, plant a hedge and put some straw bales around the hives. Should be enough to keep the wind out.

Mowing and chain sawing usually is no problem. Depends on the queen. If the bees keep on attacking you, you better requeen. Italians should be gentle, though.

Coloured hives are fine, helps the bees to orientate.