Author Topic: thinkin out loud (Read 6673 times)

kbenz · « **on:** August 10, 2010, 09:44:19 pm »

I really like my tbh's(I have five now) planning on expanding next year. hopefully I will be able to winter them ok and be able to do splits in the spring. possibly buy some packages. I am thinking one day I would like to do it full time. doing mainly cut comb? I have family here in NC also FL and NY. how hard would traveling with TBH's be for pollination?. I have read that Les Crowder keeps 200 TBH's and also does almonds? how many TBH's is doable for one man and his wife(she helps with all but handling the bees)?

thanks for any input.......

kbenz · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2010, 07:42:50 pm »

thinkin more bout it today, might make the switch to foundation-less langs. what ya think?

AllenF · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2010, 09:17:11 pm »

Or langs with just starter strips. I bet there are a lot of pollinators do that. Lang boxes are easier to move around.

kbenz · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2010, 09:37:14 pm »

Quote from: AllenF on August 11, 2010, 09:17:11 pm

Or langs with just starter strips. Lang boxes are easier to move around.

kinda what I been thinkin also

bigbearomaha · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2010, 09:47:26 pm »

the reason langs are easier to use for portability is because of the frames supporting the entire comb.

otherwise, you have a hive similar to a Warre style which is just a top bar. The weight of the comb bouncing around on a truck bed is enough to collapse it without the support of the frame around it.

if you try to move comb not in a frame like that, you really want to keep an eye on how new it is. newer comb is softer and more liable to collapse from the weight and activity.

Big Bear

kbenz · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2010, 10:00:14 pm »

do you think foundation less frames in a lang hive would work ok?

AllenF · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2010, 10:38:33 pm »

Foundationless frames with a starter strip. Yes.

bigbearomaha · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2010, 11:00:27 pm »

I think so. That's what I use in langs is foundationless frames and they travel just fine as long as there is attachment on at least 3 sides.

I use wedge top frames, break out the wedge and turn it sideways. They draw just fine from that.

Big Bear

Michael Bush · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2010, 11:22:45 pm »

I have thousands of foundationless frames in langs...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoundationless.htm

VolunteerK9 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2010, 09:39:02 am »

I'm satisfied they would work for a pollination gig. Just want to reiterate that comb age and temperature would be considerations when they are under transport though.

iddee · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2010, 10:57:52 pm »

Having driven semi trucks of bees interstate, and knowing what kind of bumps I have hit, I would definitely use cross wires if I were going foundationless.

Kathyp · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2010, 11:49:48 pm »

i have driven the truck across fields with supers full of foundationless frames. as long as they are attached, they are fine. i have never even lost one that wasn't fully attached. only time i have broken them is if i got stupid during inspection and tipped them sideways when they were full and only attached on the top. they will break then, especially on a really warm day!

iddee · « **Reply #12 on:** August 15, 2010, 12:09:42 am »

There might be a small bit of difference in a mile at 3 MPH and 1300 miles at 70 MPH. :-D

And I-94 through Chicago would make the normal pasture feel as smooth as an ice rink. :shock:

Jim134 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 15, 2010, 10:29:48 am »

Quote from: iddee on August 15, 2010, 12:09:42 am

I-94 through Chicago would make the normal pasture feel as smooth as an ice rink. :shock:

:lau: :lau: :lau:

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

caticind · « **Reply #14 on:** August 16, 2010, 01:44:17 am »

If you like the build your own/less heavy box lifting side of the TBH, you might consider a long hive. Think of a box that's wide enough and has a rabbet to hold standard frames (foundationless), but 4 feet long like a top hive. I think they're the best of both worlds.

...Except for portability, that is. If your vision of going full-time with beekeeping involves traveling for pollination, then yeah, I think langs with foundationless frames are the way to go. I love my long hive, but darn is it heavy and unwieldy!

I read a stat somewhere that suggested one person could work 100-150 hives with 40 hours a week.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #15 on:** August 17, 2010, 08:05:32 am »

>I read a stat somewhere that suggested one person could work 100-150 hives with 40 hours a week.

I run 200 and have a lot less time than that..

luvin honey · « **Reply #16 on:** August 27, 2010, 04:51:46 pm »

Depends on the man and his wife...

Jim134 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 27, 2010, 09:10:11 pm »

For about 8 to 10 years in the 70s-80s I run about 200 hives and had a 40 to 45 Hr a week job.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

iddee · « **Reply #18 on:** August 27, 2010, 09:52:32 pm »

>>>>Depends on the man and his wife...<<<<

Does that mean 200 with man and wife, and 300 with wife alone? :?

luvin honey · « **Reply #19 on:** August 29, 2010, 07:52:28 pm »

Quote from: iddee on August 27, 2010, 09:52:32 pm

>>>>Depends on the man and his wife...<<<<

Does that mean 200 with man and wife, and 300 with wife alone? :?

Sure :D

Just pointing out that this question is a bit general. People vary hugely in what they can do in certain amounts of time, whether they get more done with their spouse or without, etc.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #20 on:** August 30, 2010, 12:05:52 pm »

It all depends on how much you streamline your methods. I now have 200 hives and a full time job and manage entirely by myself. I could not have done that with the methods I was using when I had between 4 and 7 hives...

Author Topic: thinkin out loud (Read 6673 times)

bigbearomaha

bigbearomaha