What hive type would you use?

[MikeT]

If you had no equipment what hive would you use? I have started beekeeping again using National as this was what I was used to 50 yrs ago. Having use Langstroth hives in the USA, I think I have made the wrong decision, but I will have to stay with my choice as I have bought and made a fare bit of National equipment.

Mike.

Ps I am getting bored with little to do hence this post to stimulate discussion!!!

 

[domino]

I'd go Langstroth now, I like the frames.

 

[madasafish]

I started with TBHs - hence very little sunk cost - and am gradually moving to Lansgtroths.
Reasons: honey, easier to manage, Top beespace and Jumbo langs mean no need for abominations like brood and a half or double brood..

Plus langs are easier to make..and there are lots of suppliers - and growing.

 

[REDWOOD]

six of one, half a dozen of another, more options with a square box and I like 14x12 but nothing wrong with national standards. Also depends what strain of honey bees you keep

 

[Hivemaker.]

Nationals all the way, but not including any 14x12 boxes.

 

[Ely]

National deeps all one size box and frame.

 

[Edwardking]

Commercials - allows for bigger brood space, plus you can use the Nationals stuff you've got as dimensions are almost the same.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

National, top bee space, 14 x 12

Dusty

 

[dn170221]

Nationals,
but that is because most of my assoc use them hence I can be assisted in emergencies.
I would be just as happy with Langs if everyone used those.

 

[user 6228]

smiths ....

 

[Pete D]

sun dung hives.............sorry predictive text..........

Poly Langs all the way

 

[Goran]

If you had no equipment what hive would you use? I have started beekeeping again using National as this was what I was used to 50 yrs ago. Having use Langstroth hives in the USA, I think I have made the wrong decision, but I will have to stay with my choice as I have bought and made a fare bit of National equipment.

Mike.

Ps I am getting bored with little to do hence this post to stimulate discussion!!!

If You intend to keep few hives and rest ( extra colonies) to sell, I would see what is the most used at your area, and then easily sell nucs, complete productive colonies.
I work with langs, cause they are most present here, cheap due to its high presence and many make these hives and parts for langs and competition lower the prices.

 

[casualman]

Langs because easy to make and do not have to fight over seconds at Thornes sales.

 

[MikeT]

Goran

I was just interested in what other people thought. I may try some Langs on another site next year, but will use Nationals with either brood and a half or double brood this year. The langs are much simpler to make which is a consideration and even in this country they seem cheaper than Nationals.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Nationals, bottom beespace (don't see what all the fuss is about Top beespace TBH) I'd be just as happy with Langs (I did toy with the idea once) but probably if I started afresh I'd still plump for National deeps (none of this 14x12 extra deep mullarkey - them I do not like)

 

[Goran]

Goran

I was just interested in what other people thought. I may try some Langs on another site next year, but will use Nationals with either brood and a half or double brood this year. The langs are much simpler to make which is a consideration and even in this country they seem cheaper than Nationals.

Langstroth Ruth hive ( short LR) we call L(ako) R(adna) - on english "easy working" hive. For me it is really so, pretty simple.

 

[johnandyrob]

I started with Nationals then changed to Langstroths. I wanted poly and a single brood box and at the time Langstroth was my only option. My bees need more than a single Langstroth box so not wanting to go double brood or brood and a half Langstoth I am going back to Nationals. I think they will be a bit easier to move to the Heather.

 

[oliver90owner]

I may try some Langs on another site next year,

Or you could make an approx 90mm eke to fit under your deep boxes andbuy some 14 x 12 frames?

Or maybe two shallows with an approx 20mm eke?(although there would be the excessive gap halfway down the brood which might attract the bees' attention)

Two alternatives at little cost - no need for different sized roofs, floors, coverboards, supers - and easily converted back to deeps, if necessary.

I would likely stay with top bee space. 14 x 12 National or Langstroth. That was my choice when I chose 14 x12. Back then, there were no Langstroths in the local BKA. Further, Peterborough bought a pile of polylangs several years ago but they didn't seem that popular with beeks that were using them (new beeks that did courses there and started with these polys, I think).

 

[itma]

I'm quite happy with my 14x12's.
Don't like short lugs, especially with big frames. Langstroths really aren't nice IMHO.

If I was tempted to try anything different, it'd be double-brood DN (National) BUT with 10-frame poly boxes. Lighter, and intermediate in size between brood and a half and double (11-frame) brood. Seems the smarter way to get the flexibility (freedom to play games with frame rearrangement) of double brood.
However, I don't like the idea of either the MB/BeeBox or the CWJ/Swienty.
So, I'm happy sticking with 14x12 until something better shows up.

 

[richardbees]

National with top beespace.