Entrance on the long side of new hive body

[Bamabww]

In our local Farmer's Co-Op I noticed today they are now selling "bee keeping equipment, " as they called it.  I looked it over and noticed one box was labeled "Complete Bee hive." I didn't open the box but the pictures on the outside showed the components included inside.

There was a telescoping top cover, "covered with aluminum," a "ventilated inner cover," one "deep hive body," with "10 frames complete with black foundation," and a "screened bottom board."  There was also an "entrance reducer." It noted that all the wood was unpainted.

The picture showed the deep sitting on the bottom board with the entrance on the long side, instead of the narrow side. Have any of you seen or have the entrance on the long side?

The price was $149.99 as described above. A 10 frame deep with only 5 frames with foundation was $69.99. A medium super with only 5 frames with foundation was $49.99.

I didn't have my phone with me so no pictures, sorry. Hope I'm not banned for that but will try to do better next time. 

[LazyBkpr]

LOL Bad Bama.. BAD!

    Seems a little pricey to me..  Not sure why they would run the entrance the warm way either.. Kind of makes setting hives side by side difficult...

[Riverrat]

Never seen one set up with the long side as the entrance.  Unless it is using short frames it looks like it would be extra walking for the bees to get to where they want to go.

[Barbarian]

No need for the bees to go round to the side. You just turn the hive thro 90 degrees. The entrance is now on the "front" and you can work the hive from the "back".

All my oddball UK hives are set up warm way. I prefer warm way.

[brooksbeefarm]

If the entrance is on the side then that becomes the front , kind of a mini top bar hive. Jack

[robo]

The DE Hive is set-up the warm way. ->  http://www.beeworks.com/d_e_details.html

I have tried the modified Langstroth version but didn't notice any appreciable difference.  But I guess I wasn't expecting any since I run 4" entrance and no top ventilation so drafts aren't a problem.

[apisbees]

Thanks for posting the link Robo. Now it gives me a reason to rant. As Robo said when the entrance is reduced it doesn't make much different on the bees.

"RANT" The Langstroth hive is not perfect, but it is a design that has and still stands the test of time. The DE Hive that Robo posted the link to is 18 inches square. The frames are shorter than the industry standard, Langstroth's that have a top bar length of 19 inches. You buy a nuc to stock your DE hive and the frames don't fit. You buy a hive from a neighbour or are given some equipment and the sizes of the hives and more importantly the frames are not interchangeable. If for some reason you need to sell your bees and equipment, if the equipment is not standard, it is not as attractive to potential buyer and could be harder to sell.
Any one who doesn't think these are big and important issues need to follow Jen's thread on the patio hives she was sold and the hassles she has suffered through because of it and the pain to get it out of the hives.
 

[LazyBkpr]

Agreed wholeheartedly..   I work pretty hard at keeping all standardized equipment so i can interchange anything to anywhere. I have been a part of, and heard of too many difficulties with mixing gear.. Everyone is free to do as they wish, but I will say that having all of the same thing HAS made my life easier.

[riverbee]

jen's hives were unfortunately an anomaly...........i keep 2 deep hives for brood boxes, mediums for supers.  i have extra equipment for deeps and supers including frames.  my deeps are kept primarily for brood, the mediums for honey production.  i do not suffer from interchangeability and can feed bees if necessary from frames of each that i have held back.  jen had a great deal of a challenge to work with and has done remarkably and exceedingly well to get the frames and boxes squared away.  my veil is off to you jen!  most others would just plain give up.

once we get our learning curve going, some extra equipment, and a handle on how our preference or location needs are to keep bees, whether it be in double deeps, mediums, or a deep and a medium, or whatever..... management of the configuration ought to be no problem.  except for the problems we encounter outside of equipment configuration.

[brooksbeefarm]

I wouldn't want to get into a problem that mammy yokum and squirt can't figure out. Jack

[lazy shooter]

If the entrance is on the long side of the hive, was there a landing board?  Some of my girls are clumsy and need a bit of "runway.:"