Which hive

[Silverbone]

I am new to beekeeping always wanted to do it but never had the room, we are moving to a new house that has a 120ft garden (bonus) just in the process of joining the local club, but which hive would you all recommend for a complete beginner? I have been reading up on the traditional hive and also the poly hive, your comments and help would be really appreciated, thank you, Gary.

 

[Davelin]

You'll get as many answers to that question as there are types of hive!!

They all work, which is why there are so many around.

My own choice is 14 x 12 in cedar, if I were starting again now I would seriously consider getting poly hives.

There is not really a beginner's hive, what works best, works best in your first and nth year

 

[nantmoel]

We have got a mix of Nationals in standard and 14x12, we are moving all over to 14x12 this year, so much easier to managed over a brood and half or double brood. If yo are thinking of keeping a prolific line of bees I would even consider Dadant.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

of course, as a beginner, a lot would say talk to your local beeks see what most of them use and go for that type of hive (the poly/cedar debate is a separate issue really - frames are the same in both) It will probably be the standard national. As a beginner with maybe only one colony it makes sense as then obtaining a nuc of local bees is no issue and if there is a problem with your colony then other beekeepers can help with test frames, brood boost whatever.
Also, starting out with a garden hive, it's not too much hassle or expense if, a year or two of experience down the line you decide to swap for a different format.
Joining your local association and attending a course/getting some hands on experience may arm you better to decide.

 

[user 6228]

one with a thermal conductance below 1 watt per degree centigrade. It means the bees can thermally recover faster from your mistakes as you learn, and they wont be so sensitive to any small loss in numbers.

 

[alldigging]

Ask at the local club what type of frames a nuc of bees are likely to come on.

 

[MartinL]

Wow, you know how to throw a grenade in! You will get all the nuts claiming to know best, every individual promoting a different one until you have a list of more types of hive than you ever knew existed.

Ask at the local club what type of frames a nuc of bees are likely to come on.

Some will have sound advice but beware the eccentrics.

I'm tempted to start a top bar hive this year with the first decent swarm I get, (good enough for good old Monty Don)?

Might start a thread on that???

 

[REDWOOD]

It doesn't make any difference what frames nucs are in, bees are perfectly happy working normal frames in a 14x12 box, they just extend them down, you can eventually work them out if you want to.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Wow, you know how to throw a grenade in! You will get all the nuts claiming to know best, every individual promoting a different one until you have a list of more types of hive than you ever knew existed.




Some will have sound advice but beware the eccentrics.

I'm tempted to start a top bar hive this year with the first decent swarm I get, (good enough for good old Monty Don)?

Might start a thread on that???

I have a good line in open toed sandals, kaftans and leather cowboy hats they're next to the beotards and legwarmers opposite the magic fairy dust shelf in the Brynmair alternative beehaving emporium

 

[MartinL]

I have a good line in open toed sandals, kaftans and leather cowboy hats they're next to the beotards and legwarmers opposite the magic fairy dust shelf in the Brynmair alternative beehaving emporium

We'll both be banned one day!
must think of an alternative username?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

must think of an alternative username?

It won't work "they" will know - a bit like withholding telephone numbers really - you are always being watched

 

[farmerboy5470]

I have a good line in open toed sandals, kaftans and leather cowboy hats they're next to the beotards and legwarmers opposite the magic fairy dust shelf in the Brynmair alternative beehaving emporium

What has this got to do with beekeeping or hives?
Yet another thread gone completely off topic for no apparent reason.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

read my previous posts, stop whingeing and contribute something meaningful if you're so concerned

 

[MartinL]

What has this got to do with beekeeping or hives?
Yet another thread gone completely off topic for no apparent reason.

You're new here aren't you?






Welcome, It's a strange place here but nearly all of us are totally benign and (the more grumpy ones) left school many years ago. Remember when you get to a certain age your mind too will wander and lose track of what you were talking about. That's life!

Sit back and enjoy the banter along with the odd pearls of wisdom.

 

[Ely]

I have had a play with 3 hive types. I started on commercial cedar with national shallows. The commercial box takes 16 x 10 frames. I tried a 14 x 12 national with national shallows for supers. I found 14 x 12 brood frames to be more awkward and inferior to 16 x 10. I then tried paynes poly standard national deeps. All one size box for both brood and super. I found that to be the easiest for me (it could be any box of your choosing though. Shallows could be used for those with bad backs or langstroths could be used. As previously mentioned, it may be wise to choose a brood frame size that your local beekeepers/mentors use). Nice n cheap too.

 

[farmerboy5470]

read my previous posts, stop whingeing and contribute something meaningful if you're so concerned

I read it along with most of your post 45% maybe meaningful the rest not, why not keep it to off topic section?

You're new here aren't you?






Welcome, It's a strange place here but nearly all of us are totally benign and (the more grumpy ones) left school many years ago. Remember when you get to a certain age your mind too will wander and lose track of what you were talking about. That's life!

Sit back and enjoy the banter along with the odd pearls of wisdom.

Nope, been here for years. Majority of the time its pointless commenting, just thought it was a appropriate due to what admin has pointed out. To be honest only a handful of useful contributors, generally not the ones that have 10's thousands of post counts they clearly have nothing better to do with their time and like the sound of their own voice. Back to reading through loads of rubbish posts for me and I'll probably won't be contributing, better things to be doing with my time than getting into pointless posting unlike some people.

 

[pargyle]

I'd look seriously at poly hives ... they work very well for the bees .. I have 14 x 12 Paynes Polys and I like the big frame format though I know there are a lot of people who don't.

Hive type is a very personal thing .. I'm not an evangelist for any of them .. what I would suggest is that you get hands on with as many different types of hive as you can before you commit to one. My favourite is still my 14 x 12 Long Deep Hive but it comes with a whole load of disadvantages that I won't bore you with at present.

If you try them in someone else's apiary you will soon get the feel of what suits you best ...

 

[madasafish]

There are certain personal questions you need to consider: can you lift weights? Does your back hurt? If you don't like or cannot lift heavy weights, then conventional hives may not be for you.

Or you may not like lifting brood boxes.

Whatever your choice, you need something which treats you bees well.. and suits where you place it..

And if you really have no idea, try getting some real life experience with real hives and bees before spending any money.. Try your local Association for hands on experience.

British beekeeping is reckonned by our European cousins to be 20 years behind in our choice of hive material - poly rules in most of Europe where there are cold winters.. and the UK national hive is used only in the UK. Langstroth hives (and their derivatives) rule the world.

(these are facts and tell you a lot)

If you want to buy hives of an inferior design and inferior material, then that is your choice. Where you live close to the sea, it probably makes little difference.

 

[snelgrove]

Important to think carefully before committing to a particular hive. I started with smith hives simply because that was what the bees were sold in. I soon discover it wasn't big enough for most queens, so went onto brood and a half, which is a pain examing 22 frames.
14 x12 is now my preference.
I would certainly choose a larger hive than a standard national

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I am new to beekeeping always wanted to do it but never had the room, we are moving to a new house that has a 120ft garden (bonus) just in the process of joining the local club, but which hive would you all recommend for a complete beginner? I have been reading up on the traditional hive and also the poly hive, your comments and help would be really appreciated, thank you, Gary.

You can use any of the available hives that suit you. Generally the bees don't care. Find out what is the most popular in your locality so you can obtain spares or occasionally frames of brood etc.
Wooden hives are "tougher" than poly but it's your choice. Some swear by cedar, some use other woods. I build my own 14 x 12 hives out of plywood and fit hive cosies made from Kingspan in winter. Very much lower cost than shop bought equipment.
I use standard National shallow supers.
There are a very few beeks around here that don't use, national footprint variations.