- Joined
- May 6, 2012
- Messages
- 857
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- grays, essex
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 6
a few members have asked about plans for my square top bar hives, as they were made measurement wise as I went along, nothing was wrote down as "plans" all I can say is they were started with a 14x9 national frame, I wanted to be able to fit 2 frames into the top bar hive, as previously I had a queenless swarm in a top bar, and as at the time I didn't own any national hives, but all my friends did, getting a frame of larvae into them was impossible, hence me coming up with this design
now I can house swarms in framed nucs, and then transfer at a later date, or add frames of brood if needed
a few pictures and videos of both the red and white hive (roof colour denotes name)
before adding the roof and staining
the rebate cut out, so national frames will sit lower, with a blank top bar cover on top, keeping the top space sealed from bees
with covers on
hinged roof added
periscope entrances added, this gives bees a really good defensive entrance in case of robbers, as entry holes are vertically above the gap around 3" higher, guard bees are then inside the gap, heads pointing downwards onto intruders
the finished hive, takes around 2 days to build, all from scrap timber, total cost around £15
the floor is a solid ply, which is hinged, underside is then netted, hinges are on the facing side, thus you stand at rear of hive when inspection, the bottom can then also be opened, allowing viewing from below, and no disturbance to bees
the top bars do hive little sides, to help sturdy up the comb, as well as a wax starter strip, here I used wireless foundation, but in future I'll make my own wax strips
wax placed in saw cut groove, then melted wax run along each side
this is the finished white hive
http://youtu.be/oe0pCAdCWxo
red hive seen from below
http://youtu.be/lSeY3JbNZKA
transferring best frames into red hive
http://youtu.be/iz2UDxwydQg
my 3rd inspection
http://youtu.be/li9obrnaRZE
4th inspection, adding fondant and see the queen
http://youtu.be/EoYAgLScy1M
now I can house swarms in framed nucs, and then transfer at a later date, or add frames of brood if needed
a few pictures and videos of both the red and white hive (roof colour denotes name)
before adding the roof and staining
the rebate cut out, so national frames will sit lower, with a blank top bar cover on top, keeping the top space sealed from bees
with covers on
hinged roof added
periscope entrances added, this gives bees a really good defensive entrance in case of robbers, as entry holes are vertically above the gap around 3" higher, guard bees are then inside the gap, heads pointing downwards onto intruders
the finished hive, takes around 2 days to build, all from scrap timber, total cost around £15
the floor is a solid ply, which is hinged, underside is then netted, hinges are on the facing side, thus you stand at rear of hive when inspection, the bottom can then also be opened, allowing viewing from below, and no disturbance to bees
the top bars do hive little sides, to help sturdy up the comb, as well as a wax starter strip, here I used wireless foundation, but in future I'll make my own wax strips
wax placed in saw cut groove, then melted wax run along each side
this is the finished white hive
http://youtu.be/oe0pCAdCWxo
red hive seen from below
http://youtu.be/lSeY3JbNZKA
transferring best frames into red hive
http://youtu.be/iz2UDxwydQg
my 3rd inspection
http://youtu.be/li9obrnaRZE
4th inspection, adding fondant and see the queen
http://youtu.be/EoYAgLScy1M
