Observation Hive.

[sherwood]

You will need ventilation to allow a flow of air from bottom to top. Recently built my own slightly bigger takes two brood frames a Q excluder and a super frame. If you truelly wish to use it at shows and the like you need to ensure that it can be clamped to a table and that the opening portion can be secured. if you make the base and sides slightly wider you have a natural recess to put some insulation in such as Cellotex this can then be held in place by elasticated straps.

 

[Dishmop]

Have put vent holes in on the side and will be doing some more on top and bottom frame.

Will not be using it for shows.

Opening will be secured by a screw. Crued but holds it close with no gaps.

Will be making a "gate" of some type to stop free flight in the house.

I made it in as simple a way as possible using timber off the shelf and can make it thicker or taller with no problems, even with the bees still in it.

Any pics of your hive please Sherwood?

 

[kazmcc]

I'd be really interested to see any pics of your observation hives.

Look what you've done......I'm not even allowed near bees on my own and I've got ideas of installing an ob hive, running away with myself again lol

 

[Mike a]

http://outdoorplace.org/beekeeping/obs1.htm

or

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~fbates/beepics.html

Heres the sort of hive I would go for.

 

[Dishmop]

OK.

Quick vote please.

Do I do 2 frames or go for 4? (2 x 2)


I can convert to 4 in about 2 hours.

 

[Mike a]

If your building for a short duration and you have no problems swapping frames in and out through a season then 2 frames would of been fine but as it sounds like a long term feature in your house I would vote at least 4 if not 6 frames of the design you opted for 2x2x2 and I would use 14x12 deep national frames as well.

 

[Dishmop]

Thanks Mike.

Have done the converstion to 2 x 2 this afternoon.

It also allowed me to put a lot more ventilation in the top and bottom which might prove to be too much but at least it will be easier to reduce than increase.

 

[Dishmop]

OH for sale.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150480641607&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Shorts or pants?

 

[Friar Tuck]

If you have bees inside. would they winter better?

 

[Poly Hive]

Obs are not easy to over winter and if one takes a minute to think about the colony model and the ob model it is pretty obvious why.

PH

 

[Dishmop]

If you have bees inside. would they winter better?

In my case, time will tell.

They might appreciated the radiator,,,,, or not...

 

[Tom Bick]

I have been looking into observation hives and I understand that unless the oh is a large one then overwintering is perhaps not advised. The smaller oh are really just for summer observations.

 

[Erichalfbee]

My mentor's OH is six frames and she overwinters that though sometimes it's been touch and go. There is a five year old queen in it

 

[Dishmop]

Probably same situation as to why/if a nuc will over winter and the another one doesnt.

 

[Mike a]

I would think the biggest problem would how can they cluster to keep warm if the OH is only a one frame thick stack and given if it was 2-3 frames tall would 2-3 frames have enough stores to see a colony through winter.

Hence why I would say 2-3 frames thick by 2-3 tall so either 6 or 9 frames in the OH to give them half a chance.