Natural Beekeeping Network

[zaunreiter]

A beekeeper in Germany re-invents a so called "bee box".

Bee boxes have been in use for centuries, they are simple horizontal boxes and worked from below. I consider populating some of them this year to compare.

See for some impressions:

http://www.bienenkiste.de/index.html

and a video how to work them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDv3PQ9A-6s

Bernhard
_________________
~ ubi apis, ibi salus ~

(latin: where bees, there health)

[jeezlebarf]

How about that? They look really cool. They must be the simplest of hives. I shall have to knock a couple up. Thanks for that Bernhard and good luck with your bees this year. I'm really looking forward to seeing how your super vertical does.
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'Leave your bees alone' Charlie Nothing

[FollowMeChaps]

Wow. Really interesting to see that they had both built straight comb and along the length of the box rather than across. Do they have comb guides do you know?

I'm also guessing that they are Warré's magical 210 cm deep to stop them attaching the comb to the floor?

Like jeezlebarf I'm really tempted to have a go but a little worried about the lack of insulation, Do you have any thoughts here Bernhard?
_________________
Robin
As with everything in life your view of the world depends on where you are standing at the time.
North Somerset local sustainable beekeeping group

[biobee]

Very interesting, Bernhard.

I find myself wondering why they followed the Langstroth pattern in using wide, shallow boxes rather than something deeper and more 'hollow tree'? I can see that turning a deeper box over could present problems, and I have already designed an A-frame with central pivots to make this easier
_________________
The Barefoot Beekeeper
The podcast
Guide to Swarming and Swarm Management

[spellingb]

how is the honey harvested without a removeable bar or frame? do they just scrape some comb off the box, or remove the entire hive???

[zaunreiter]

The comb is simply cutted out - no problem at all.

In a horizontal stretched hollow I often have seen pictures with long comb, going straight from the entrance to the far back. I think this is for ventilation purposes. Another idea is - the bees have to travel along the comb in winter, when feeding on stores. Long combs from one end to the other enables travelling without "jumping" combs. Maybe easier.

I think of another type of simple hive. In Germany these kind of hives are called "Tunnelstöcke", which is roughly translated to "tunnel hive".

A friend of mine had the idea to hang this hive up into the trees. See:



At the top there is a triangle lath to strengthen the back (back bone), to this lath (batten/slat) the rope is lashed to. Because the edge of the hive is pointing upwards, the hive itself forms a roof.

The only way to harvest such a hive is from the ends on the right and left. Removable boards have to installed there.


Another idea I had is the "wall tunnel hive". I fix that hive against a house wall. Above my head.



This way I can turn down the floor board with the help of a hinge. I have a wonderful view from below on all the comb, without disturbing the bees much and without loosing to much "nest scent" (because it is not open up at the top). Comb can be cutted out from below for a harvest.

Just ideas, any hints are very welcome.

Bernhard
_________________
~ ubi apis, ibi salus ~

(latin: where bees, there health)

[Cheryl]

These are really neat. I'd love to build one of those. Problem is, here in the States, I think there is a law against "fixed comb" hives - where each comb cannot be removed to inspect and then be replaced.

If I find out otherwise, I think I would love to have one of those bee boxes!
_________________
We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
~ Aristotle

[Robee]

Cheryl,
You could just build one and paint it up. A piece of "modern art" hanging off your house or tree in the back yard. Throw in one of those lures and don't call it a hive any more than you would the attic space or hole in the wall that wild bees adopt as a home. I think if I were to have my hives inspected and they saw bees going into that hole in the wall by my chimney, they certainly wouldn't try to cite me for having a hive with non removable bars or frames. LOL
Robee

[Giboshi]

You are correct about "re-inventing". I came across these photos:
http://www.thehoneygatherers.com/html/photojournalism2.html
scroll to the far right and see what beekeepers in Cameroon use for hives. Primitive [by our standards], but functional.

This is a great site for bee photographs.
Charles

[Vee-aitch]

Beautifully made hive - but:
1) 'harvested from the bottom' seems a bit of a misnomer when the hive has been turned upside down - so the bottom 'becomes the top' (with nest scent rising upward and hence outwards?)
2) partial hive deconstruction for access (let alone being turned upside down) looks every bit, or more, disturbing for the bees as beekeeping in Nationals, Commercials, Langstroths etc.

Have I missed something? Am I being dim? Cheers, V

[zaunreiter]

You're right, which is why I tried to find ways to avoid the flip.

Access from below, hanging above your head - that should be it.

Bernhard
_________________
~ ubi apis, ibi salus ~

(latin: where bees, there health)

[Vee-aitch]

Well! That would be something to see - make sure you've got someone handy with a camera! V