Need help choosing my 1st hive

[Barbarian]

I endorse the post from Itma.

If you go with a type of hive that is not popular in your local area and things don't work out for you ---- problems. You could end up giving your equipment away.

 

[Black Comb]

Yes Itma's post makes sense but I would hope that by the time you buy your first equipment you have attended a beginners course and handled bees, thereby confirming you are keen to continue. Choosing a hive type because it will be easier to sell locally is not a strong reason IMO.

Also, is this local compatibility overplayed? I have never swopped brood frames or equipment with anyone, never been asked/discussed with any other beek. It seems to be generally accepted that once you start you have the motivation and ability to sort yourself out.

AS others have posted, swopping hive types is not that difficult. It's just that usually comes with a financial penalty if you don't like what you start with, i.e. used prices are less than new.

 

[sipa]

Buy a Polystrene National Hive fron Swienty / c wynne jones.

cheap as chips and the bees do very well in poly ! you won't regret it.

You need enough space for brood, depending on the type of bees you get.

14*12 or double brood.

good luck

 

[itma]

... Also, is this local compatibility overplayed? I have never swopped brood frames or equipment with anyone, never been asked/discussed with any other beek. It seems to be generally accepted that once you start you have the motivation and ability to sort yourself out.

For the one-hive-owner "compatibility" is important when you need to scrounge a test frame!
During the first and second years there's a good chance you'll be caught out by finding yourself short of some spare kit that you really NEED now!

Being able to 'borrow' a few new frames, foundation or whatever it might be to do ANOTHER artificial swarm... is a better position than having to cover all the possibilities from day one. Especially before you are sure that you want to "commit" to that format!

 

[itma]

Buy a Polystrene National Hive fron Swienty / c wynne jones.

cheap as chips and the bees do very well in poly ! you won't regret it.

You need enough space for brood, depending on the type of bees you get.

14*12 or double brood.

good luck

If only they offered a 14x12 ...

Note to the unwary - because the CWJ poly nat adheres to the standard *external* dimensions (so fits under a wooden roof, etc) it only takes 10 hoffman-spaced brood frames. That is 10% less than standard. However, you might hope to get the outer faces of the poly better utilised for brood - redressing the balance. Also, you aren't going to get the standard 40lb of winter stores into a single brood. But you might hope to get by with less stores in the poly.
Decent choice for multi-brood though.

All this must be horribly complicated for the total novice!

I think that the best advice has to be "don't rush into buying a hive".
Handle some different ones (with bees) before you decide what is important for YOU.
Beginners tend to like the easily-handled, long lugs on all the national-type frames. Pros often like the shorter lugs (Langstroth, etc), not least because the boxes are simpler to make and thus cheaper.
Horses for courses. (Starter, main and dessert!)

 

[alanf]

For the one-hive-owner "compatibility" is important when you need to scrounge a test frame!
During the first and second years there's a good chance you'll be caught out by finding yourself short of some spare kit that you really NEED now!

Being able to 'borrow' a few new frames, foundation or whatever it might be to do ANOTHER artificial swarm... is a better position than having to cover all the possibilities from day one. Especially before you are sure that you want to "commit" to that format!

Agree entirely, and would add that most hobby beekeepers are not looking to have warehouses of spare kit. We have to work around families and being able to sell on if commitments change is a useful pitch to them whatever the immediate intention. There's also a general spirit of co-operation. If you can lend a nuc box or a few frames to a neighbour in need, you're much more likely to get offers back when you're in need yourself.

 

[Teemore]

I would reiterate that a number of local associations have bulk purchasing arrangements in place so that members do not fall foul of the often high delivery charges to send items to Ireland (North or South). Some supplies offer free delivery on orders above a certain value and this should be borne in mind. Carriers are known to refer to Ireland as Treasure Isle...
Local associations can advise people where to purchase beekeeping kit nationally and there are some local suppliers. If the OP attends the UBKA conference at Greenmount at the beginning of March they can purchase directly from Thorn£$. Ab£lo will be doing free deliveries on that weekend also.
I feel the support of a local association and some sort of course and/or mentoring will smooth the path into beekeeping for the OP.

 

[richardbees]

Horses for courses. (Starter, main and dessert!)

read and appreciated!

 

[sunhivebee]

Rusty, have a look at Rose hives, all the same size box and all the same size frames. If you don't like the look of them then at least you have made an informed chose.

Mike

The Rose Hive makes a lot of sense, and the book is a really interesting read, from which you will learn a lot.
http://www.*****************/rose-hive-book.html

 

[adrian wilford]

the national is the smallest, i spent about 9 years with nationals and have moved onto 14x 12s bigger brood area for queen laying, more space to store food for winter, i would suggest that i have less swarms with them, national frames are easier to handle, one problem with 14x12's, they are more difficult to move due to weight, nationals can be moved by self

 

[itma]

the national is the smallest, ...

But single-brood WBC is smaller still (one less frame).

 

[richardbees]

whatever you do ....don't get a WBC!

 

[BeeJayBee]

whatever you do ....don't get a WBC!

Why? I know people who have WBCs and they think they're fantastic.