bee space

[yeogi75]

which is best ?
top bee space or bottom bee space
and why ?
to me i dont see any diffrence uless you know diffrent

 

[Dishmop]

which is best ?
top bee space or bottom bee space
and why ?
to me i dont see any diffrence uless you know diffrent

Well I see it that the only place it makes any difference is on the top box, or when sliding a box back into position. i.e. less headless bees.

 

[tonybloke]

which is best ?
top bee space or bottom bee space
and why ?
to me i dont see any diffrence uless you know diffrent

top bee space is quicker to work

 

[Travelator]

One stupid but also important answer is "whatever matches the rest of your kit".

That's the reason I use bottom bee space! I'm reasonably convinced based on reading previous discussions on this forum that TBS is actually better.

 

[Hivemaker.]

There are umpteen threads about this.

Here is one of them. http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3436&highlight=top+bee+space+bottom+beespace

 

[yeogi75]

There are umpteen threads about this.

Here is one of them. http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3436&highlight=top+bee+space+bottom+beespace

thats what i was looking for, as i have just made up a brood box and checked as i was going on with the instructions, i was looking for which is best top or bottom before glued together, done a quick search for top bee space and just keeps me on first pages and have to troll throu pages,do you go to search and use top forum search or the bottom search both seem to get the same do you have to be accurate on wording,bye the way gone for top bee space thanks all

 

[oliver90owner]

or when sliding a box back into position. i.e. less headless bees.

That not enough? That affects speed/ease of operation, of course.

I use and prefer top space. The most used format in the world (Langstroth) uses top bee space. The UK is out of kilter with the rest of the world?

Crown boards are simple boards - cost saving. Winter insulation sits absolutely flat, without any problem.

Can't so easily use floppy Queen excluders on top bee space (may be a cost downside to those with floppy Q/Es already) and framed Q/Es are the far better/easier choice. I use framed wire Q/Es (when I use them), so not now a problem to me as the few slotted steel are eventually destined for some other use or disposal.

Need to avoid sitting boxes on solid flat structures (frames can be pushed upwards slightly). Not a real problem for most beekeepers.

Not compatible with the users of bottom bee space boxes. Not a problem unless swapping/borrowing/lending boxes, which is not good practice, but sometimes necessary for some, it seems (usually new beeks) and can be 'got around'.

Don't have Q/Es glued down to frame top bars with top bee space.

Yes, I prefer top bee space.

 

[Dishmop]

or when sliding a box back into position. i.e. less headless bees.

That not enough? That affects speed/ease of operation, of course.

Fully agree.

Saves one waking up after nightmares of bees heads poking from the joins between the boxes.

 

[oliver90owner]

A few decapitated bees does not necessarily lead to nightmares, surely?

 

[user 6228]

we use black correx cover boards and if you slide them off as you slde the box on it seem to work. But only if you have the luxury of doing it double handed. We have BS because when we started we didnt know

 

[Dishmop]

A few decapitated bees does not necessarily lead to nightmares, surely?

Terrible.. I have to console myself with alcohol before retiring to bed.

 

[farbee]

It seems that the more experienced and pros use top bee space as it is quicker to work.
So why do virtually all equipment suppliers suppy bottom bee space as standard? Really do not make sense.

 

[oliver90owner]

So why do virtually all equipment suppliers suppy bottom bee space as standard?

They don't. Read my earlier post. It is only a National 'thing'. They make (more) money from it/don't like to accept change? Follows from decades of bottom bee space Nationals, I suppose

 

[yeogi75]

It seems that the more experienced and pros use top bee space as it is quicker to work.
So why do virtually all equipment suppliers suppy bottom bee space as standard? Really do not make sense.

i buy brood boxes flat pack as its the bees proper home for years i hope, and if you start with proper flat square bb any thing that goes on top doesn't have to be pretty, and can be disposable after a few years, by then you should be proficient building flat square and more durable supers to last longer, flat pack nationals have bottom and top bee space bottom bee space raise end board ie frame end board up 5mm if top bee space required drop flush with bottom of box don't know weather all have the same

 

[farbee]

So why do virtually all equipment suppliers suppy bottom bee space as standard?

They don't. Read my earlier post. It is only a National 'thing'. They make (more) money from it/don't like to accept change? Follows from decades of bottom bee space Nationals, I suppose

Sorry should have said Nationals (whicj I use) are supplied bottom bee space. That is correct isn't it? The thing is I have started out and didn't know about this top/bottom bee space issue. Now I will at some stage convert my broods to top bee space.

 

[Madge]

Well I see it that the only place it makes any difference is ... when sliding a box back into position. i.e. less headless bees.

And the other way round you get bees with their abdomens cut off - also headless. At least, with a bottom bee space hive you can see the heads poking up above the frames and puff them down. With a top bee space hive you don't see the bees that are going to get quashed.

...
I use and prefer top space. ... Crown boards are simple boards - cost saving. ...

Good point in favour of top bee space.

 

[tonybloke]

And the other way round you get bees with their abdomens cut off - also headless. At least, with a bottom bee space hive you can see the heads poking up above the frames and puff them down. With a top bee space hive you don't see the bees that are going to get quashed.

not so!
bees tend to climb up.

 

[victor meldrew]

The pinch points are the interface between the boxes! A clumsy beekeeper will crush lots of bees whereas a careful one won't ,regardless of top or bottom bee space!
Physical strength also plays a role, the beekeeper barely able to lift full supers will tend to 'hump' the heavy boxes and therefore crush more bees than the stronger more confident one who is able to hold at arms length and delicately place supers with more regard for ensuring less fatalities!
VM

 

[yeogi75]

the answer is to put supers on skew wiff, minimul surface area to trap bees and twist slowly to allow bees to get out of way easypeasy

 

[victor meldrew]

Very little is 'easy peasy',some colonies are 'runners' and the best you can do is minimise the numbers of crushed bees . Regardless of the precision of the bee space, brace comb is an issue with some colonies.
The best one can do is to be careful ,solicit help.
Bear in mind, squashed bees promote the spread of Nosema like wild fire.
VM