Hi I live in Perth and am wanting a flow hive 2, my issue is
space. I could install a hive under patio area, I would modify the flow hive to have a 90mm pipe that would attach to the exit /entry of the hive for the bees to fly in and out from. It would be vertical straight up through to the top of my patio many be 1.5m to 2 meters. Would this work … please help
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Yes those systems do work and there are some great examples around the world. The closest one to you would be the SciTech beehive in Perth where they have a hive inside that has a long entrance to the outside. It may pay to have a visit and see what they have done.
Internal observation hives have these too, most of the ones I’ve seen they are only 40mm or so.
You’ll need to shape the entrance above the patio to ensure water doesn’t get in (your diagram shows a slop back from top to bottom, I’d do that the other way. I’m just not sure what diameter pipe you will want to ensure good bee passage but no comb building. I’m also not sure if it is a long way have an access point at the bottom angle that can be removed so debris can be cleaned.
That should get you started and there will be others on here that will help flesh this idea out.
There are more complicated ways to do it too…
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Great thanks for that … now to spend some $$$$
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So, i’m wondering if a larger pipe would be better? Thoughts.
I’ve never had a lot of luck with long pipes for entrances. My observation hives always seem to do the best with a short tube. Like not more than 3 feet or less.
Welcome to the forum @9magenta and pmh69.
The ideal entrance according to bee scientist Thomas Seeley is 15 square cm which is about 4.5 cm diameter so 90mm is too large.
I get a lot of information from watching the entrances, having it out of sight wouldn’t work for me. Regular inspections would have the patio buzzing also.
Having the 45° cut on the top pipe would be better inverted to the drawing to keep water out if you were to go this way.
I think you should try a hive on the patio without a pipe first. If you get nice bees, you shouldn’t have much trouble. If you feel you need a pipe after a while, try a shorter one first, then go longer if that doesn’t work.
Getting back to the no-pipe idea. You might get away with a side screen or something like that
cheers.
So the reason I wanted to have the bees entering above the patio was to not upset my neighbours as we are reasonably close to them. Any other ideas would be great
If neighbours are a potential problem then your pipe entrance could be a goer. You cannot site your hive elsewhere?
Cheers
Rob.
I am just being cautious more than anything
You could build a large screen, covered with shade cloth to place between the hive & the neighbors.
I knew I’d seen different chimney hive entrances, just took me a while to find a couple of links. No experience with either design.
https://www.chimneyhives.com.au/
https://www.designboom.com/design/b-box-kit-bee-population-urban-beekeeping-07-04-2019/
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Well done Adam, I think the chimney idea looks like a good idea for urban beekeping. I wonder if over enthusiastic guard bees would come down to ground level to attack unsuspecting people.
I guess that is the premise Jeff the guard bees in these ones stay at the entrance of the hive at the base of the hive and it is only the bees leaving the hive that use the chimney.
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I have had the odd bee attack me quite a few meters from the hive. It seems a lot of infrastructure for just one hive. But if it works, why not.
All the urban beekeepers need to do then, is stop the bees from swarming. That’s not much of a challenge 
Being in WA I think I will make something but it helps with ideas
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It is why I point my backyard hives at walls/fences. The guard bees don’t see us and cause a problem.
I can see why you would make something. Just remember the screened bottom and inspection port opposite the hive entrance in the chimney.
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I would be interested in an update on this project.
Some additional factors.
Some Perth Local Governments have a minimum distance from neighbouring property doorways and require a hive location map showing distances from doorways, fences don’t seem to count, this map must be supplied to the Council before approving the keeping of bees.
In my local government district, the minimum distance from a hive to a neighbouring property doorway is 5 metres, irrespective of hive orientation, fences or height differentials.
When upset my bees will chase people off at 10 metres and sometimes even out to 20 metres.
We also have a height differential between my hives and the balcony of 5 metres and when upset if someone leans over the balcony the girls come chasing stinger first, even though the front of the hives face away from the house.
You also need to consider lighting.
At night bees are often attracted to lights. What is the risk of bees entering your or your neighbours’ property after dark? Often they just buzz around the light, however, when they drop dead you have the risk of a primed stinger that can penetrate the bottom of a foot if stepped on.
Also consider sources of water. Swimming pools, spa’s, ponds and water features are all popular spots for bees to water from. If you have bees you are responsible to ensure they have adequate water, unfortunately the bees don’t care about your water source, they will choose whatever suits them at the time.
Last but not least, are any of the neighbours or their friends allergic to bees? No matter if it was one of your bees or not if the neighbour knows you have bees they will blame your bees, especially if they end up in the hospital, or worse.
Please be considerate of neighbours, children and pets as not all properties are suitable for keeping bees.
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Thanks for your interest I am building the chimney in the centre of my property it has two seperate buildings I will let u know how it progresses
For reference, these are my shire’s local laws in regarding keeping beehives. I live on 2000m² block, and still struggled to find a good spot for my hives away from streets, my neighbours, and safe for my kids. Technically, I’m not within the rules, which annoys me.
Best thing to do is to talk to the neighbours too, and give them honey once you have some to spare. Keep them on your side. Keep in mind, that once they know you have bees, whenever they get stung by anything, it is going to be your bees.
https://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/ResidentServices/PublicHealth/AnimalsPests/Pages/Bees.aspx