Rose OSB Hive

[Metamorphosis]

Why is everyone knocking the Rose Hive?

Have any of the ‘knockers’ tried this conception of same size throughout?

Having used and tested other hives Poly Hive, does not make you a specialist in the construction or management of hives. What you profess about hives is just your own personal opinion on how you found them to work with. Then you mentioned your preference which is the poly Langstroth. It might have been the Rose hive for instance.

All of these comments by Admin, PH, hedgerow pete, Jimbeekeeper and Hivemaker, in my opinion are totally out of context as none of you members have had any experience of using this type of hive.
There were many that ridiculed the Wright brothers concerning flying, but just see where we are now in the aviation world.

If you have had personal experience of using these hives then your comments would be valid, but you have not so therefore I find your comments extremely biased and not worth the paper its printed on.

Thank you

 

[David P]

An interesting rant that misses the whole point.
The original poster asked what people thought and got an answer.

Your Wright brothers analagy really doesnt work as they were coming up with the first aeroplane in the same way as the Reverend Langstroth was coming up with the first moveable frame hive ( and yes i know a german guy was working on a similar idea at about the same time).

All the "innovations" since have simply been an attempt to re invent the wheel, with different box sizes. Some of these variations in box size have been to accomodate the needs of a particular strain of bee and others such as the Rose Hive an attempt to make life easier for the bee-keeper.

At best it is a system not a Hive and will no doubt eventually either catch on or be ever consigned to history along with hundreds of other hive types that have gone before.

The real point in terms of main stream beekeeping is availability. Go to any of the association auctions being held over the next few weeks and i will bet my bottom dollar there will be any number of national and langstroth hives and components available. I would also bet my bottom dollar that you are very unlikely to be able to get any Rose Hive components.

If a change were of benefit to the bees and their welfare then i'm sure it would be warmly embraced by a large number of beekeepers, as it is its change for changes sake and as such is in my opinion a non starter.


David

 

[VEG]

I see Klutch_click that you are from Malta what is the most common type of hive there?

 

[Metamorphosis]

Hi David,

I take your point but what I wish to convey is that how can anyone give an unbiased opinion on which they have little or no knowledge about?

Had any member experienced the Rose Hive at first hand, then their comments would be founded on experience in that particular field.

Thank you

 

[VEG]

As you said its people own opinions .

What hive type are you going for metamorphosis?

 

[Metamorphosis]

Hi VEG,

I have Langstroths poly/wooden, and Nationals.

If I could afford the changeover I would have Langstroth poly or wood and do away with the Nationals.

I believe with todays mix of genes in all our honeybees the queens are now needing a larger area of brood laying than they did twenty years ago. I feel the National hive, if used, should be used as a double brood configuration.

Years ago, way before I started beekeeping, it is written that the British Black Bee is most suited to the climate here in the UK. This being so they did not need a lot of brood space as they were not prolific as the exotic species of today, and the size of the brood nest fitted perfectly the inside of a National hive. In this present day and the influx of queens from warmer climates then there is a need for change from traditional ways of beekeeping. I think?

Thank you

 

[clutch_kick]

If a change were of benefit to the bees and their welfare then i'm sure it would be warmly embraced by a large number of beekeepers, as it is its change for changes sake and as such is in my opinion a non starter.


David

Well it seems to benefit the person who came up with the Rose boxes! I dare not say they are better, but they must be as good as the rest.

 

[clutch_kick]

I see Klutch_click that you are from Malta what is the most common type of hive there?

I don't know!! Nobody wants to tell me or they don't have a clue either!! When I ask, people just say ... 'oh, you need a wooden box!' lol

Basically i joined this forum to get some info. This is not the right thread though. I'm plannng to get a colony of bees this autumn, probably italian.
I'm still undecided what to use ... there seems to be 'botched up' versions of the langs and the nationals being used.

By botched up, I mean to say that I get opinions like, 'oh you don't need a screend bottom, that's all BS', 'don't bother making a removable entry block, just leave enough space for 3 bees to pass side by side', and ' the bottom board should be an integral part of the brood box'

i'm confused ... however back to the topic, the Rose OSb seems to be practical, and for a beginner like me it is very alluring!

 

[FenBee]

Well I am finally using my Rose hives and they are sturdy, being made from both solid pine and marine ply. Even for a simple box joint the rose hive is solid.

However, the hive is designed to take 12 frames and I find there is a degree of movement, in other words the frames can be placed as a group either at one end or the other (or in the middle of course). The backlash is about 12mm, so I think if thicker marine ply was used on the sides this and machined for the front and back pine sections, this would allow the hive to be built "square" more easily and give more insulation to the bees

What I do like about the Rose hive is the simplicity and low cost of construction. That is not to say that there are not some really good looking National / WBC hives to be had, just that the Rose Hive has a place too.

 

[Poly Hive]

I am not knocking the "Rose" hive per se.

I am however knocking Ego hives in general. Why?

For the very simple reason that there are more then enough hive types already. new comers get very confused and its so un-neccessary.

It amuses me that every other year this crops up, and the cry of eureka rises to the heavens again.

As for the bee population changing radically over the last 20 years that is I feel just plain wrong. In England and Wales there have been big importations for donkeys years. Pure AMM or very close to it exists still in Scotland I had them as recently as 8 years ago.

By the way the first moveable comb hive was very likely invented in Scotland in Stewerton. They just got on with it and Langstroth was left to do the shouting.

 

[FenBee]

By the way the first moveable comb hive was very likely invented in Scotland in Stewerton. They just got on with it and Langstroth was left to do the shouting.

That sounds interesting PH, do you have any references to who in the Stewerton area of Scotland invented the first movable frame hive? I like the idea that such a hive was invented on this side of the pond first

 

[Poly Hive]

Who? No idea to be honest.

There is a legendary story that they went to one of the huge empire exhibitions, won the comb honey class, bearing in mind it would have been sent by rail.

However the chuckle is that they kept back the best honey for the REAL competition at the local honey show!

PH

 

[subbuteo]

More on the Stewarton hive here:

http://www.scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/learning/documents/Chapter1 2009.pdf

I am disappointed to see that the English may have invented it first...

 

[steve1958]

I decided to read this thread for some 'After Dinner entertainment' having just eaten my sunday roast.

Not too sure what to make of the Rose Hive.
Apart from the fact that the Boxes only cost £10 compared to £20 for an empty Langstroth Super.

 

[marklaverda]

Tim What is yur website URL? Am always interested to see whats new in beekeeping.

 

[BKF Admin]

Tim What is yur website URL? Am always interested to see whats new in beekeeping.

For the rose hive?
Its in the first post of the thread..

 

[oliver90owner]

I have just read through the website (again) and I notice the reasoning that 2 x OSB = a brood and a half on National. That is given as a good reason for changing to that system

That would indicate there is not a lot of difference between 2 x OSB and a 14 x12?

Now, I am not at all keen on lifting 14 x 12 broods, but thankfully I don't need to move them too often. I can also split them into two halves for transportation.

I am also not too keen on moving full National supers of honey either. They need to be moved at every inspection. If yet heavier, that for me would be a bad move. OK perhaps for a youngster with a good back but I am in neither category.

I prefer a single brood to the split broods whenever possible. The queen can lay a better pattern on one frame than having to change frames. Finding a queen on 20 odd frames is extra hassle. Splitting the brood nest horizontally at inspections is an added disadvantage. I would not expect my total brood to equal two 14 x 12s without severe risk of swarming with my typical bees. I might allow them to use another super for temporary expansion, but not for long. I find that big enough to go for queen rearing without going double bood on 14 x 12.

I also enquired whether these larger frames would easily fit in my small radial extractor. I did not receive a positive reply. I am guessing they might, but that might be an added expense. I don't like guessing either.

My Dartingtons use 14 x 12 frames so that suits me even more. My nucs are 14 x 12s and they have supers available, if needed for extra space, or stores. They are also used for dividing for increase.

I can see some advantages, but I am not a commercial enterprise. There are several more cons than pros for me.

So overall I think that, for me, the system is a non-starter.

Regards, RAB

 

[jezd]

not sure if Tim Rowe hangs around here anymore, I have asked him for a copy of his 'patent pending' proposal (with no reply) but I guess there must be a direct way of getting this online - anyone know if these are available to the public?

Jez

 

[thebhoy]

not sure if Tim Rowe hangs around here anymore, I have asked him for a copy of his 'patent pending' proposal (with no reply) but I guess there must be a direct way of getting this online - anyone know if these are available to the public?

Jez

Hi Jez,

I have a copy of the plans that I can forward to you, I received them from Tim a short while ago as I was looking at various hives to determine which ones to go for from a 'startup' point and also from a point of being able to make myself long term (the easier the better as I am not very DIY focused).

If you PM me with an email address I will send them over,

thebhoy

 

[jezd]

Hi Jez,

I have a copy of the plans that I can forward to you, I received them from Tim a short while ago as I was looking at various hives to determine which ones to go for from a 'startup' point and also from a point of being able to make myself long term (the easier the better as I am not very DIY focused).

If you PM me with an email address I will send them over,

thebhoy

thanks, but its not the plans I wanted, on his website it says patent applied for and I want(ed) to see the patent application in detail - just curious.

Cheers

Jez