- Joined
- Oct 16, 2012
- Messages
- 18,264
- Reaction score
- 9,600
- Location
- Fareham, Hampshire UK
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 6
Thought you might like to see it ...... it's been a long journey after about four re-builds to incorporate changes and additions. Mostly made out of reclaimed timber and bits I had laying about. Most expensive bits were the catches, the mesh for the floor, the timber for the legs (which I, reluctantly, had to buy) the glue and the screws. Total cost, probably around £25.
It's a bit novel ... the whole bottom section detaches to get at the hive side of the mesh floor as and if required, there is a tray beneath the mesh floor which I'm using as a Varroa trap with a sticky sheet but I'm considering filling the tray with wood mulch and introducing one of the 'predator' mites that are currently being tested as a means of varroa control.
The frames are 14 x 12 size but all made by me with no foundation - just a triangular starter strip dribbled with a bit of Th's best organic beeswax and they are wired horizontally.
There's a periscope entrance and alternative entrances on the rear in case I need to split (not essential as I've a home made Nuc as well).
As you may have read elsewhere it's heavily insulated with HD polystyrene in a timber sandwich ...nearly 60mm in total ... the roof has similar insulation and there's room for some more on top of the crown boards come winter. There's no top ventilation and the vents at the bottom of the hive can be closed off with corks to suit ... we'll see how that works.
There's a few other bits to make life easier and I hope bee friendly, the interior has been varnished with a mixture of propolis dissolved in meths.
The bees were shook into it this afternoon and they didn't take a lot of pursuading .... no smoke, no water spray ... all very easy - I even managed to squash a couple when the retaining chain on the lid broke and the lid crashed down onto the front of the hive... still no reaction ! Good bees I think ..
It's in the back garden in a nice spot contained on two sides by 6' walls and fences and on the other sides by my greenhouse and workshop ... all well alway from neighbours and the flight path is almost straight up !
So ... there we have it. Would I recommend a new beekeeper to build a non-standard hive - probably not, unless they have lots of patience and a good workshop and tools and time - lots of time ! Did I benefit from the project - absolutely, it made me listen, learn, think, plan, build, replan, rebuild, learn more - and a lot of the ideas incorporated came from here. You are right Dusty, you can NEVER have enough crown boards in a hive like this !... Its been a good journey if a long one. I like what I've made and the only real disadvantage is the weight ... the amount of timber makes it VERY heavy - not that it matters as it's not going anywhere. The next one will maintain the design but I'm going to find a lighter method of construction. But for the time being ... it's bee time and something I'm looking forward to.
It's a bit novel ... the whole bottom section detaches to get at the hive side of the mesh floor as and if required, there is a tray beneath the mesh floor which I'm using as a Varroa trap with a sticky sheet but I'm considering filling the tray with wood mulch and introducing one of the 'predator' mites that are currently being tested as a means of varroa control.
The frames are 14 x 12 size but all made by me with no foundation - just a triangular starter strip dribbled with a bit of Th's best organic beeswax and they are wired horizontally.
There's a periscope entrance and alternative entrances on the rear in case I need to split (not essential as I've a home made Nuc as well).
As you may have read elsewhere it's heavily insulated with HD polystyrene in a timber sandwich ...nearly 60mm in total ... the roof has similar insulation and there's room for some more on top of the crown boards come winter. There's no top ventilation and the vents at the bottom of the hive can be closed off with corks to suit ... we'll see how that works.
There's a few other bits to make life easier and I hope bee friendly, the interior has been varnished with a mixture of propolis dissolved in meths.
The bees were shook into it this afternoon and they didn't take a lot of pursuading .... no smoke, no water spray ... all very easy - I even managed to squash a couple when the retaining chain on the lid broke and the lid crashed down onto the front of the hive... still no reaction ! Good bees I think ..
It's in the back garden in a nice spot contained on two sides by 6' walls and fences and on the other sides by my greenhouse and workshop ... all well alway from neighbours and the flight path is almost straight up !
So ... there we have it. Would I recommend a new beekeeper to build a non-standard hive - probably not, unless they have lots of patience and a good workshop and tools and time - lots of time ! Did I benefit from the project - absolutely, it made me listen, learn, think, plan, build, replan, rebuild, learn more - and a lot of the ideas incorporated came from here. You are right Dusty, you can NEVER have enough crown boards in a hive like this !... Its been a good journey if a long one. I like what I've made and the only real disadvantage is the weight ... the amount of timber makes it VERY heavy - not that it matters as it's not going anywhere. The next one will maintain the design but I'm going to find a lighter method of construction. But for the time being ... it's bee time and something I'm looking forward to.
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