Author Topic: Observation hive for the Farmers Market  (Read 5487 times)

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Offline gtrr4

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Observation hive for the Farmers Market
« on: July 19, 2018, 12:04:04 pm »
Anyone have an opinion if this should be displayed in direct sunlight or the shade?  Curious if sunlight reflecting may cause additional heat inside and harm the bee's or brood. 

Jason


Offline Wandering Man

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Re: Observation hive for the Farmers Market
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2018, 12:22:53 pm »
I would keep it in the shade.  You might also check for leakage.  We took a small observation hive to an elementary school without checking it first.  We explained to the children that those little critters buzzing around the classroom were just "flies." 

The kids were okay with it, but the teachers were a little nervous ...

No one got stung, but I wonder how many 1st graders are out there now confusing bees for flies.
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Offline efmesch

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Re: Observation hive for the Farmers Market
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2018, 02:33:39 pm »
gtrr4--I don't know about the intensity of the sunlight in Ohio, but I can assure you that if I were to leave an observation hive in full sunlight here in Israel, it wouldn't take long before it would turn into bee-hive-soup. 
Many years ago, when I was still marketing my honey, I set up an observation hive to attract business.  It  drew a lot of interest but I made sure to have "cover flaps" to be able to place over the glass walls as the first indications of overheating or distress.

Offline apisbees

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Re: Observation hive for the Farmers Market
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2018, 11:34:29 am »
Always in the shade under a good thick tent. even a little sunlight will turn the observation hive into a green house or even a solar wax melter. If the temp at the marker is to be in the mid 80,s or above it is getting to hot to keep the bees confined in a observation hive. So leave the bees at home, no one should be seeing highly stressed bees running inside an observation hive. Give them a water source through a feeder of some sort.
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Offline gtrr4

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Re: Observation hive for the Farmers Market
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2018, 09:58:13 pm »
Thanks for the advice.  I started with them in the shade, wasn't sure if it would be better seen out in the light.  I do keep them watered through the top.

Offline Mikey N.C.

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Re: Observation hive for the Farmers Market
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2018, 02:56:54 pm »
Did you build the OB hive ? Yes keep out of direct sun light. This is one me an cover it up built 2 yrs. ago . 4 frame deep in bottom 1 up top with Queen.  Notice up top , on both sides 1 inch pvc angled down with #8 wire for vent, with vents in bottom.  Copy of Ulster.




Offline Mikey N.C.

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Re: Observation hive for the Farmers Market
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2018, 03:01:22 pm »
Forgotten to say there is a Q excluder between 4 frames and single frame up to.