Beehive stands are an essential tool in beekeeping that your hive sits on. Its main purpose it to raise the hive off from the ground.  They are beneficial to the beekeeper and the bees alike. While you should elevate it, it should not be too high. You should lift the supers with ease.  

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How high should beehives be off the ground?

A typical beehive height should be 16-18 inches from the ground though it mainly depend on the beekeepers preference depending on the body height. This makes it easy for you to lift hive boxes and at the same time keep the hive off the mosit ground and well aerated. The height is also affected by the number of boxes that you intend to add on the hive each year. It is advisable to measure the bottom board of the hive before you embark on buying or making a hive stand. They vary depending on the hive configuration. Adjustable hive stands are also available and DIY options can be made according to your specifications. Some of the common materials that can be used to make hive stands include cinderblocks, metal, wood, or even plastic. You should prioritise on durability so that they can last as long as possible. 

What are the Benefits of Keeping the Hive Off the Ground?

Make Life Easier for the Beekeeper

Beekeeping is a physically demanding task with lots of lifting and bending. You may end up having back pains during routine inspections. By using a hive stand it makes works easy for you. Approximately 18 inches height is comfortable for you to operate from without having to bend a lot.

Maintains the Hive Dry

By lifting the hive off the ground, it helps to keep it dry. When placed on a damp ground the wood becomes wet from dew  is prone to rotting. A stand helps it to last longer. If a hive is close to the ground, the moisture content in the hive tend to increase which affects the internal environment of the hive. It can lead to mold development in the hive. Flooding from rainwater can also be risk for the hive and bees. 

Keep Off Honey Bees Pest and Predators

By raising the beehive, it keeps our lovely creatures free from pests and predators. These are more likely to attack a ground-based hive. Some of the insects that trouble the bees include ants and small hive beetle. These troublesome creatures can make the bees to abandon the hive and seek a new home. Rats and mice will also raid the hive to get a meal and even to nest in the hive. 

Accessible Entrance for Bees

It is easier for the foragers to enter a hive that is raised than when it is on the ground level. When on the ground, the hive is likely to be obstructed by weeds and grass. If the entrance is covered, the bees will have a difficult time to access in. 

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What happens when a hive is placed too high from the ground?

While the hive is not supposed to be placed on the ground or too low, it is not also supposed to be elevated too high from the ground. Beehives becomes too heavy especially when loaded with comb and honey. It can be risky to lift supers full of honey. A hive that it too high from the ground is also exposed to much wind and risk to be blown by strong wind. Too kuch wind also affects the hives internal temperature.