Observation Hive Location

[mherndon]

I am having an observation hive built for use next Spring for school demos.  I don't think my wife would go for the idea of having one in our house.  I thought about putting it in an outbuilding where I keep tools and other things.  I just don't want the hive to be out in the weather.  The building is not heated though it gets pretty hot in the Summer.  Winter would be warm if the sun is shining.  Would this be a good location.  The hive will have 2 deeps and one medium frame.

Mark

[Kathyp]

mine is in the livingroom.  :-).  you might be surprised.  your wife may find the observation hive fascinating.  i know my husband and i spend a lot of time just watching them.  someone on here has their observation hive in the bedroom!  can't remember who.

[BjornBee]

You might be better off just maintaining a full hive and removing the frames to place into the OB hive as you need them. Personally I think the potential extremes in winter and summer under such conditions would not be a good thing.

[Scadsobees]

Especially if it is 1 frame wide, they don't have the area to cluster and keep warm when outside.  If you go with more than 1 frame wide that will improve thier chances, but also decrease the ability to watch what goes on in there.

I keep mine in my den, and it is worth watching all winter long.  I've only had about 5 bees loose in 3 years.  And that is with 5 kids under the age of 12. 

Although I did end up with a quart of 2:1 syrup with HBH smashed on the carpet :(  But that is another story...

Rick

[BjornBee]

If you do just pull frames from a full hive as you need them for the observation hive, I would leave the queen in the hive. Having a queen in an OB already is one thing, but putting frames in an OB and then moving it around has the potential for shifting frames, and damaged queens. 

You can always mark a few drones, and have the kids pick out the "boy" bees.

[Kathyp]

i let my OB hive make a queen.  that was fun.  the kids would get a kick out of watching that, i bet.  then you could use it for a new hive.

[Frantz]

I think Kathy is right, you will be surprised. I put our OB hive in the house and within a week my wife loved it. She has now become my best beek buddy. We work the hives together and she calls them her girls now that she has had a chance to watch them work the OB hive. She loves it when she gets a chance to see the brood emerge!!!
Just set it up in the house and let her warm up to the idea. Just don't let her know that I told you to do so!!
Best of luck
F

[Irwin]

I'm still working on my wife to let me get one :)

[poka-bee]

It's always easier to ask forgiveness than permission... ;)  Once they see the new little bees emerging they will be hooked..they're soooooo cuuuuttteeee! Oh, & it wouldn't hurt to have the kids name some.. :-D  J

[Irwin]

It's always easier to ask forgiveness than permission... ;)  Once they see the new little bees emerging they will be hooked..they're soooooo cuuuuttteeee! Oh, & it wouldn't hurt to have the kids name some.. :-D  J

I keep telling her that the grandkid's would love it :-D

[Brian D. Bray]

I think Kathy is right, you will be surprised. I put our OB hive in the house and within a week my wife loved it. She has now become my best beek buddy. We work the hives together and she calls them her girls now that she has had a chance to watch them work the OB hive. She loves it when she gets a chance to see the brood emerge!!!
Just set it up in the house and let her warm up to the idea. Just don't let her know that I told you to do so!!
Best of luck
F

Frantz, clean out your mailbox.  I tried to PM you and got the dread "Undeliverable, Mail box full" notice.  I was trying to find out if you'd shipped the OB Hive yet.  I'll be setting mine up on the sun porch.