So long as you could easily access the rear of the hive to harvest you are correct. The entrance is created from the bottom board. All you are talking about is a simple change of orientation. Assemble your box as normal, face the window to whichever side you prefer it to be on, then install your entrance from the bottom board in the opposite the harvesting window.
The only way you are going to run into trouble is if you want to retain the orientation of the original harvesting window and also change the side of the observation window since this would require changing the actual order of how the pieces are put together rather then just a simple orientation issue.
I have basic wood work skills as well, Thank you @beethinking - Iâd forgotten about the pre-drilled holes.
Can I just ask @Adam why do you need the window on the other side - is it because of the direction you want to orient the Hive? You could always just assemble the box and place the entrance to the ârearâ of where you wanted it and the window could be where yo want it - Ie minimal change to the Flow just a visual rethink to the hive orientation. So long as the bees have reasonable access to the hive the front entrance orientation is not set in stone instead of âthinking out side the boxâ Think inside the box what will the bees cope with?
The orientation if you need the window to face a specific way is not of dire importance so long as the bees have a reasonable access.
I have even thought of facing my entrance the opposite way to stop the bees using my entire back yard as flight path which sort of narks hubby that they do, but selfishly I want to see them coming and going also the may not poop on his precious car so much if I change the orientation 90°. I could still see them coming in and out or even 70°.
Hi Valli, thanks for all your help! Yeh purely wanted to change the side the window is on as the default side the window is on will be close to a fence. So I really wanted to be able to easily access the window so I can see my little bees at work
Good idea, it wont work though as the layout I have will point them into the house. (Small backyard) Would you mind if I PM a picture to you to see if you think the spot is suitable? Would really value your Opinion.
@Valli, @Adam, Finding this discussion on modifying the window placement has been very helpful. Iâm in the same boat as Adam, b/c thereâs really only one good placement for my hive. Without modifications the window will be facing a barrier that backs up to my angled roof, making it essentially unuseable.
Of course, I didnât work out the problem until I had my hive assembled. Looks like Iâll be taking it apart this weekend.
Yes it is a little bit tricky. Just be careful as it does leave a bit of a gap on one of the sides as well. If you have any questions though donât hesitate to ask
My modification to switch the window around came out pretty well. I took a bit of cedar shim and cut it down to size to fill the gaps where the bar screwed in originally. Those are bracketed in place till the wood glue dries.
One question thoughâŚthere is a bit of a gap between the top of the back wall and the tool-access-panel cover. 1mm to 1.5mm in places. Is that significant enough to need filling?
Any chance of a photo? My inclination is to say that it wonât matter, the bees will propolis the gap if they donât like it. However, that may make it hard for you to remove panels for extraction, depending on exactly where the gap is. Hence my request for a photo
I had to do that modification by accident because I didnât read the instructions properlyâŚ
I had it all nailed and glued together when I saw the bar and rebate⌠doh!!!
stupid brainâŚ
but anyways⌠the wood being pretty soft, I was able to just file out a rebate, put in the metal bar and BAM⌠all finished⌠(but with the window on the other side)
this has come in handy as its on the opposite side to the afternoon sun which is where they are currently filling it with honey⌠so we can see all the bees hard at workâŚ
hopefully by next weekend theyâll have started capping on that frameâŚ
over the past day or two they have found new sources of nectar and pollen⌠I can see the Gum Trees across the river starting their Summer/Autumn flowering and thatâs exactly where a lot of them are heading⌠instead of the westerly direction that they had been goingâŚ