Securing Hive Sections

[Digestive]

Looking for advice on the easiest (best?) way to secure sections of a national hive to each other in order to keep the hive togeather in strong winds.

I’ve seen people place straps around the whole hive but are there any suggestions for a more practical and aesthetic way to make a hive secure?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the most practical and sensible method is to use a strap securing the whole hive and stand together - in this case, hive/colony safety is more important than aesthetics IMHO
Traditionally you'd use spring fasteners - or you could use toggle fasteners - have a search on the thornes site under hardware>moving hives. (other sellers supply them too.) thi thing is though, having to unclip each box every inspection is a right PITA

 

[SaraR]

A strap around the hive and stand is really reliable and easy to work with. You just loosen the strap a little and drop it by your feet, then it quickly goes back up and is tightened down once you’re done. Just make sure you get good quality ones - I’ve had best luck with some old straps meant for holding kayaks on the roof of the car. I have had fallen trees land on the hives and although the hives shifted off the bricks under the legs of the stands, the hives themselves remained standing and upright. Without a strap I am convinced that the boxes would have been scattered on the ground. I also have a rock on each hive roof, but it’s not really needed with the strap in place.

 

[user 819]

Cam buckle 5m strap is what I use in a fetching bright yellow colour.

 

[Murox]

the most practical and sensible method is to use a strap securing the whole hive and stand together - in this case, hive/colony safety is more important than aesthetics IMHO
Traditionally you'd use spring fasteners - or you could use toggle fasteners - have a search on the thornes site under hardware>moving hives. (other sellers supply them too.) thi thing is though, having to unclip each box every inspection is a right PITA

That is how I do it and I live in a windy spot, I also add a cheap corkscrew style ground anchor directly under the stand and run the strap through its handle as well for the most exposed hives.

 

[SaraR]

That is how I do it and I live in a windy spot, I also add a cheap corkscrew style ground anchor directly under the stand and run the strap through its handle as well for the most exposed hives.

Oh, that’s very clever!

 

[madasafish]

I strap all hives,nucs and mini nucs to stands.
We occasionally see gusts over 50mph in storms.

 

[Hachi]

Have always used straps since one of my first hives ended up toppling over..... a nightmare to put right and why risk your bees? A simple strap slackened off and tightened in seconds

 

[Barbarian]

I SHARE AN OUT-APIARY WITH 2 OTHER BEEKS. WE DON'T USUALLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HIGH WINDS. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH VANDALS PUSHING HIVES OVER. TO COUNTER PROBLEMS WE USE STRAPS.

WHEN A STRAPPED HIVE IS PUSHED OVER THE SECTIONS USUALLY STAY TOGETHER. THERE IS LESS CHANCE OF THE Q AND THE BEES BEING KILLED BY BAD WEATHER.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

No need to shout, I know it's windy and I'm a bit deaf - BUT NOT THAT DEAF!

 

[user 819]

Very rude to use capitals when posting.

 

[user 20297]

Very rude to use capitals when posting.

Well, they didn't call themself "Barbarian" for nothing.

 

[RobinG]

Can get pretty windy here, not to mention the odd badger wandering around! My hives are on hollow concrete blocks, with the ratchet strap through the blocks and a bit of pipe insulation to prevent the strap rubbing on the block as it's tightened. Very quick and easy to release and resecure when done!

 

[Barbarian]

Sorry if I upset anyone by using capitals.

I have sight problems and my current laptop is an ASUS one which doesn't have a light-up key which comes on when the CAPS key is engaged.

 

[user 20297]

Sorry if I upset anyone by using capitals.

I have sight problems and my current laptop is an ASUS one which doesn't have a light-up key which comes on when the CAPS key is engaged.

yOu dIDn'T upseT Me.... terrible that you should have to endure repeated vandal attacks.

 

[user 819]

Sorry if I upset anyone by using capitals.

I have sight problems and my current laptop is an ASUS one which doesn't have a light-up key which comes on when the CAPS key is engaged.

No problem then, it just isn't normal etiquette to post in capitals.
Now we know it's due to vision, I wouldn't think anyone has an issue with it.

Maybe one should have just typed a fore note just to explain the reason why ?

 

[BugsInABox]

Nothing ruder than piling on to point out etiquette breaches publically.

(edited for kindness)

 

[Widget]

Looking for advice on the easiest (best?) way to secure sections of a national hive to each other in order to keep the hive togeather in strong winds.

I’ve seen people place straps around the whole hive but are there any suggestions for a more practical and aesthetic way to make a hive secure?

I have my polyhive strapped to the stand but I have also hammered metal garden staples into the ground either side and attached bungee straps. I also have a couple of bricks on the top. That polyhive is going nowhere!

 

[nettle]

I don't have bees for my hives yet (one poly, one cedar), but my planned out apiary is in a windy coastal spot. I'm planning to strap mine to a base pallet, with a home made pallet-type stand beneath the hive, just to raise it up to a more comfortable height. I hope the bottom pallet will provide a wide enough footprint to make it stable in strong winds. I have the straps that you wind around a sort of buckle (bought from C Wynne Jones), rather than a ratchet strap.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have the straps that you wind around a sort of buckle (bought from C Wynne Jones), rather than a ratchet strap.

Spanset straps - very strong although working out how to wind the strap is a bit of a dark art - but be very careful in getthing the tension right on the poly hive as the straps have been known to crumple them.