Author Topic: Installing a Observation Hive in Our Nature Center. (Read 12987 times)

DonMcJr · « **on:** May 10, 2014, 12:53:17 pm »

Well next week I will have photo's and Video but wanted to share some pics now.

I can't take credit for the Build Dave in Our Bee Club Built it (I want one for at home!) We planned it together along with 4-5 other Beekeepers and the Nature Center Director...

2 Frames thick and the 1st Pic you can see we have windows to see between the frames too!

It's Varnished to Match the Log Cabin Nature Center building!

We should be installing a Nuc in it next week! Can't wait!

DonMcJr · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2014, 12:56:15 pm »

Oh and I have a Question...

The entrance is on the Bottom. We want to make one of the 4 sections just 2 frames and no foundation so the bee's can build "wild" comb. Should we leave the empty frames at the top or the bottom?

DonMcJr · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2014, 10:06:49 pm »

Anyone wanna gimme an opinion on where to put the Foundationless frames?

iddee · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2014, 10:11:04 pm »

I would install one at a time beside a drawn frame, top two positions.

DonMcJr · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2014, 10:25:54 pm »

Quote from: iddee on May 10, 2014, 10:11:04 pm

I would install one at a time beside a drawn frame, top two positions.

I like that idea!

blueblood · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2014, 12:02:43 am »

Good stuff. Please continue to show some pics of this as it rolls along.

G3farms · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2014, 06:48:00 am »

Just me, but I would put in frames with starter strips of foundation to get them going in the right direction with one at the top next to a frame of drawn comb and, one second from top next to a frame of drawn comb from the nuc. They will start at the top empty frame and build down, this will will take them longer and give more of the visitors a chance to see it.

efmesch · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2014, 09:38:46 am »

That's not an observation hive---it's a beautiful furniture display case.
I agree with Iddee and G3 about putting the frames for building next to a built frame, like G3 says, with a starter strip, one on the left side and one on the right---but I'd put them in the middle two levels---there you're more likely to get worker bee sized cells. Up above, where the bees are most likely to do their storing of honey, they'd probably build drone sized cells.

DonMcJr · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:37:04 pm »

Went and picked up 2 Nucs today...one for my Home Apiary and the other for the Nature Center Indoor Observation Hive!

Stay tuned tomorrow for some pics and possible a Video depending on if it's raining or not...

apisbees · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:52:54 pm »

If it was up to the bees in nature they would start at the top and work down so to replicate nature you could place the bees and frames from the nuc in the top and let the bees work down. But being beekeepers we like to get the bees to work up, by doing this we avoid the queen laying in the honey frames so the frames stay whiter.