Michaels Bush's idea of a "long hive" based on medium langstroth dimensions
Dennis Murrell's writings about a "combo hive"
Joseph Clemens ideas about "slated racks"
I've still got some things to do
I need to build some sort of tops, I think I'm going to build standard migratory covers for starters
I also want to be able to use a slide in tray to monitor mites and close off the bottom in really bad weather
The more I mess with this the more intrigued I am by the flexiblity it's going to provide
run it like a topbar hive
run it like two langstroth hives
use follower boards to split it into 5 or 6 nuc's
use topbars or use regular frames
for my other hives I'm using all medium boxes/frames so everything is interchangeable
Next spring is gonna bee a lot of fun
Click the images for a larger picture.
all the pieces layed out on the floor
material is a stock 1x8
note the rabbet for the frame rest and for the slated rack to fit in
the box assembled with the slats installed
looking from the bottom
landing board installed on one end
I put a landing board and an entrance on each end, not sure if I'll use both
The #8 hardware cloth has been installed but due to some optical discombobulation it doesn't show up
Note: this is two hives stacked on top of each other
I'm plannning on putting about 15 topbars in for a brood nest, then some regular frames for honey storage
that way I can super above the honey storage area (because the regular frames provide for vertical movment)
hmm, at this point it occurs to me that using a couple of follower boards I
could setup a regular langstroth hive on each end of the box and have room left
to run a nuc or two in the center
here are some pressure treated feet put on the bottom to protect from rot
and here are some slide in trays for monitoring mites (still gotta paint em)
a couple of stands
I've scratched my head a lot about what to do about top's
Michael Bush's website shows the use of migratory cover's
it seem's like a nice solution because it allows you to remove a cover and add a super or a hivetop feeder
on the other hand, I worry about water leaking between the covers (of course you could cover the crack with a board)
I also thought about a 1 piece cover which would be waterproof but prevent supering. (not to mention heavy) hmmm
I went ahead and built the migratory style, I may build a solid cover before the hives first winter (06-07)
here's a picture of how I constructed em
and here they are on the hive with a super in place
to all those I've borrowed ideas from
"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"
Let's Get Some Bees In This Thing
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