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Author Topic: Observation top bar hive  (Read 9048 times)

Offline Stuartmc

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Observation top bar hive
« on: December 30, 2011, 06:50:15 pm »
I thought some of you might enjoy something a little different....  Here's a glass hive that I built and set up last spring (you'll see the pics when an admin appends them).  I used 3/8" glass for the walls, a screened bottom, 1/4 acrylic top bars, and a total of eight 3/4" couplers for the entrance/exit pipes.  The inside dimensions match my other wooden hives so I can swap bars around.  The top bars were a little weaker than I anticipated, I thought they’d bow under the weight of a full comb, so I glued on a small rib to stiffen them.  The wood frame/support took a lot of time to build but I enjoyed woodworking.. and the fact that I was designing something I've never seen before.  I could have simplified the frame but I wanted to protect all of the edges because there's lots of children running around my house.  I've posted a few vids on youtube and you can find them by searching "observation top bar hive."

These pictures are within a few weeks of installing a chopped medium lang nuc but now it's nearly full.  You can see the lang bars with the 1/8" spacers (the spacers close up the langs bee space).  My long haired son is the only one small enough to climb in behind the entertainment center to enjoy all four sides.  To my surprise he has found the queen crawling around the combs.  A couple of things I enjoy most is watching them build comb, filling the cells, and the dances visible on the first bar.  I'm noticing the attachments seem very similar to my wooden hives (not shown but maybe I'll post a few more pics later).

I had anticipated working the hive by sliding the entire works out the window but my nuc came before I had that ready.  So, while installing the nuc, i simply taped up some thin plastic (cheap drop cloth), from floor to ceiling, and opened the windows.  Most of the bees find their way back into the hive and then I simply vacuum up the rest.

I'll admit that I'm a little concerned about over wintering.  I understand that if they're too warm they'll mill around, eat all of their stores and not make it thought he winter.  In order to drop the temp I've added a temporary vent to allow outside air to circulate around the back end and non-viewing side.  So far this winter has been pretty mild.  The bees are flying today and I was happy to see lots of pollen coming in within the last couple of weeks.

My kids want a more traditional observation hive that allows viewing of the comb face of the top bars.  I have an idea about some hybrid lang/top bar bars, to allow bee space, but it's only an idea so far.

Stuart





« Last Edit: December 30, 2011, 07:23:28 pm by Robo »

Offline Country Heart

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2011, 09:23:16 pm »
Very nice   X:X

Offline nietssemaj

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2011, 10:43:16 pm »
That is very nice.

Offline luvin honey

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2012, 05:23:24 pm »
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
The pedigree of honey
Does not concern the bee;
A clover, any time, to him
Is aristocracy.
---Emily Dickinson

Offline dux

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2012, 01:47:10 pm »
I am planning to do something nearly identical to this. How has it faired over the last year? What would you do differently?

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2012, 08:08:02 pm »
Very nice. That's a great hive.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline edward

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2012, 08:29:47 pm »
stuartmc hasn't been Active since May 27, 2012, 14:30:56

I sent him an email, maybee he ll answer  :roll:

Offline Joe D

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2012, 02:24:05 pm »
Thanks for sharing, its very nice.  Have thought about doing some kinda like it also.




Joe

Offline ScottAz

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2013, 04:54:32 pm »
That is so cool! Can't help wondering if I could convert a long-unused 55 gallon saltwater aquarium (thick glass) to something similar and swap frames with my TBH. Thanks for posting and I look forward to your updates!

Offline tomofreno

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2013, 12:05:25 pm »
Nice! If I built a hive like that I'd spend all my time transfixed watching the bees.  :-D
I imagine the kids really like it.  Hope some of them don't knock it over while rough-housing! :shock: :-D

Offline AliciaH

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2013, 01:36:03 pm »
That is truly inspiring!  I have so many questions, though...for example, an indoor hive isn't going to have the same temperature fluctuations that an outdoor hive will.  What happens during the winter?

Offline vmmartin

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Re: Observation top bar hive
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2013, 11:42:51 pm »
That is very nice. Thanks for sharing

 

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