Observation Hive Portable

[Jen]

For those of you who have an observation hive, is it better to have glass than plexiglass. Thinking about building one 

[efmesch]

Like everything, there are the pros and cons to each possibility.  When I used my observation hive, it was with glass.  Even with long use, it tends to stay clean and provide a cler view of what is going on inside.  When cleaning is needed. no plastic, even plexiglass, cleans to a clear polish like glass.
So why don't I have an observation hive in use today, You can give one guess---
You got it!  Glass breaks, plexiglass doesn't.

[Jen]

Sounds like a good idea to me. I would like to have an afternoon in my 6 year old granddaughter classroom before school ends, thought she and I could do a presentation together    thinking that she and I could build the o hive together, but need real simple plans.

Anyone out there have real simple plans for quick and easy observation hive?

[Riverrat]

use safety glass.  plexiglass will scratch and hard to clean

[efmesch]

Jen, I built mine according to the plans I found in a pamphlet that cost me $1.00:  FUNDAMENTALS OF CALIFORNIA BEEKEEPING,  Printed in 1971, it was a frequent reference source for me in my early years with bees.  It has 4 pages dedicated to the topic of building and managing an observation hive.   if you can get ahold of it, or find it in a public library, I would highly recommend it to you.
I just did a "Google"----
Try following this link:
https://archive.org/details/fundamentalsofca42stan
The section on observation hives starts on page 46 and the construction details and drawings are on page 47.
Good luck. 

By the way, you needn't make it four frames high, you can reduce it to three or two. But four frames can make a nice home for a reasonably sized, active family.

[Jen]

Ef, I just changed the title to this thread to Portable  I see many online that hold one frame, they run from $70 on up to several hundred dollars. I'm wanting one that hold one frame.

[efmesch]

You can reduce the construction to one frame too, but it won't last you very long.  Once in a school where I taught, I set up a one-frame observation hive.  After about two weeks they didn't swarm, they absconded! :'(
On the other hand, I maintained my four frame observation hive for several months.  I even transported it on occasison (after closing the entrance at night) to the nearby farmer's market, to increase customer interest when I brought honey for sale.

[Jen]

Something like this is what I have in mind. You slip a frame of bees down into it, close it off, and take it to where you're going to be speaking. I would attack a handle on the top, and add a wooden stand or feet on the bottom that would be detachable... maybe

https://www.kelleybees.com/Shop/32/Hives-Components/Hive-Kits/4302/Observation-Hive

[efmesch]

It looks like you want a "frame transport box".  It should be good enough to use to take a frame with bees to your granddaughter's classroom, to serve your purpose of giving a talk and then to return the bees to the mother hive.  Not much more.

When you go to give the talk, make sure to bring some samples for demonstration and passing around to see, touch and smell: built empty honeycomb; honeycomb with honey (capped); honeycomb with pollen AND A FEW DRONES.  The kids can learn not to be petrified of bees by handling drones when they know they can't sting.

[Riverrat]

one frame hives are not meant to substain bees.  The frame along with the queen is added to the ob hive in the morning and returned to the parent hive in the evening. OB hives are nice but they are a lot of work and a royal pain at times.  I have had a couple and finally quit to much work for me