I’ve ordered 2 bee packages and plan to set up my Flow Hive and a regular hive in the same area. Is this a good idea or should they be separated? If separated how far apart?
Carol,
Beehives can be set up right next to one another. I personally if you have the room keep separates by a couple feet to make it easier to work on. It will also help bees from robbing or drifting to the wrong home. It’s usually not an issue. Everyone has their pet setup or if limit area a place to put them. Give yourself room if possible to work around all side.
Others might soon come on here with more info as well. Welcome aboard n ẹnoy…
Gerald
You don’t need to separate them, but it is convenient to have enough space between them for you to be able to work around them. Two or three feet should be enough, four feet would give you plenty of space.
Good to know the hives can be close together. Thank you.
Hi Carol, I will echo what @Gerald_Nickel & @Dawn_SD posted.
Related question. I too, have two packages coming (but don’t have existing hives). Any concerns installing both packages at the same time in close proximity? Could the bees in one box decide they like the other queen better and I end up with only one operational hive?
No
Have you joined a local beekeeping club to get some knowledge under your belt?
Joining such has great advantages. You can meet fellow novices and get somebody experienced to mentor you and get some lessons
Actually I have read that there is a concern with this. I have never done it myself, as I like to use nuclei rather than packages. I would be tempted to do them a couple of days apart, if possible, but I bet @Michael_Bush has some useful ideas, because he has extensive experience with packages.
Yes, that can be a problem. Install them just before dark and it will be a lot less of a problem.
Ah…I have learned something, then
What if you installed them on successive days?
I’d rather get them all done at once and not keep them confined any longer than necessary.
I would have thought you could do the transfers any time of day at the same time. I would probably keep them a meter apart while doing that. Each colony having it’s own individual odor would insure the colonies stay together.
If both packages came out of the same large colony, keeping the transfers a meter apart would counteract that.
If one needs to stack the colonies closer together, that can be done in a day or two.
Thanks for all the replies. My hives are ~1.5m apart on either side of a young tree so I guess I will just move them in at dusk and cross my fingers. 
1 Like
Please let us know how it goes, so that we can learn something too! Thank you!! 
OK, got an update from the farm. My bees are coming 8;30PM and it’s an hour drive back home. So… Do I install in the dark or wait until dusk the following day?
Hi TickTock, if it was me, I’d wait until the next morning. It’s ok for you young people. 9.30 to 10.00p.m. is way past my bedtime.
I don’t have a problem with the time. I am wondering, though, how the bees will react being dumped into their new home in the dark. In Mr Bush’s installation video, the bees immediately started orienting. My fear is when they fly out of the hive and package, there won’t be enough visual clues for them to remain together. My inclination is to wait, too, but was wondering if anyone had experience with this and could tell me “no problem.” I hate to leave them in their package for another day.
Bees do not fly in the dark.
Makes it sound like night time might be optimal. Less buzzing around, more into the brood box.