love these

[norfolknchance]

idea

How does their price compare to matchsticks?

it doesn't but I hav a great idea

 

[norfolknchance]

You are confusing hot weather with the normal metabolic heat generated by bees inside a hive.
If you want a graphic example of how much metabolic heat bees generate inside a poly hive and the effort they make to get rid of it.....do not do what happened to me a few years ago on a cool July evening. I forgot to remove the varroa board from under an open mesh floor and sealed the entrance late at night prior to a 5AM move the next day. I thought things felt a bit sticky when I picked up the hive.....there was honey and melted wax running out everywhere...needless to say not a bee was left alive. The other 5 hives that had the varroa floors removed were all fine.
I've never underestimated the importance of correct ventilation since.....and never accidentally left another varroa board in when I'm about to move hives.

most polys got a mesh floor

 

[nbeek]

Is there any scientific data on the optimal temperature (and humidity) that bees try to keep their hives at, I would imagine it would be different for the Brood than the Supers, and again different in Summer (raising Brood) and Winter (just trying to survive)?

I know that in California they have attached a fan to ventilate (cool down) some hives, power by solar panels, they seemed to work well, does anyone know of any attempts to heat hives, not during the summer as it might trick the bees into thinking that it was warmer than it is and cause them to go out on a cold day, but what about during the winter? or am I getting to high tech here and trying to guild the lily, ... mmm ... think I might bee on that one !

Anyway, anyone have access to that data on hive temps?

 

[Finman]

.
Put keywords into google: Beehive temperature control

 

[Finman]

.
I have in most hives 7 boxes. In most boxes I have 15 mm round entrance open.

I must open the whole main entrance during hard flow.

I change ventlation according the number of ventilating bees.

 

[norfolknchance]

Well I wont argue with that

 

[alfazer]

Friend of mine making these

Look interesting. Has he trialled them for long with the bees? Do they work well? Beespace, comb building, propolis, ease of inspection and the like.

 

[REDWOOD]

I dare not comment until proven a viable hive. Somethings do bother me though, one being there are no lugs on the frames for easy removal when the bees glue them down,will those round frames fit any current extractors.
Can anyone tell me the methodology and are there any in practice now.

 

[Finman]

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Now I looked those first pictures.

I do not take seriously round frames. What is the advantage!.... To make things difficult.

Not love even with first sight
.

 

[Fusion_power]

Why all the argument about ventilation from beekeepers who live in a climate that does not need much ventilation? Move here and you will learn the value of having a hive designed for easy ventilation.

Horizontal hives, even those that have round frames can be evaluated according to common standards. This is a fixed size horizontal hive similar in operation to the de Layens. Here is what I see.

1. The frames will be a bit difficult to keep aligned properly and propolis use will be a tad high.
2. How many frames have to be inspected to find the queen?
3. It has plenty of room for a prolific queen and plenty of room for wintering but not enough room for honey storage.
4. This hive design can be converted to 2 queen operation but not very easily.
5. Large combs will result in a consolidated brood nest which is a positive.
6. The entrance shown would be unacceptable in my climate. This is fairly easy to fix by making a larger entrance.
7. This hive would be difficult for one man to move if full of bees and honey.
8. The design does not allow existing equipment to be leveraged. Everything will have to be made from scratch.
9. Cost is a factor given that this hive design will be higher priced short and long term than existing designs.
10. Finding an extractor will be expensive. I can think of a few that would work, but at a steep price.
11. Bees prefer to work vertically. As a horizontal hive, it will require a bit more manipulation to keep the bees expanding in spring.
12. This is a non-standard design so the market value if and when sold is questionable.
13. Honey harvest will have to be done one comb at a time instead of by the box. Many honey harvest methods such as bee blower, fume board, or escape board are precluded by the design.
14. As a horizontal design, it won't be as likely to blow over in strong wind.
15. This design would be relatively difficult to use producing queens.

All in all, an interesting variant of a horizontal hive. It shares similarities with the "coffin" hives marketed here in the U.S. If used as a garden hive, it would be a nice conversation piece but would be difficult to use commercially.

 

[Finman]

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Fusion has missed a point, that how much on hot weather bees need ventilation. Bees do not move hot out air into the hive. They bring water into hive and evaporation keeps the temp proper.

The more ventilation in hot air, the more hot air goes into the hive. That is why, do not open inner cover when it is hot.

And then on food nectar flow bees dry up the nectar.
.it is huge amount of water from nectar when bees get ready 5 kg honey a day.
.