Quick question for you fine beeks. I am wondering (I know it will vary based on where you are) what is the MAX weight of a hive? This is total weight, boxes, frames, bees, stores, etc... I have seen on Michael Bush's site what each box could weigh but I was wondering if anyone has info on the total weight of a hive. Again this is the max weight.
I am looking at getting a scale to weigh the hives but do not want to get one that will not work (maxed out). The scale I am looking at has a 400Lbs (181Kg) limit and want to make sure that that is enough.
So what is the heaviest hive you have ever had or seen.
Thanks all!!
What type of hive are you working with, Langstroth, national, other? What size; 8 frame, 10 frame, deeps, mediums, shallows?
Also, what are you trying to weigh and why?
A) a single deep or double deep hive getting ready for winter
B) a hive mid summer with stacked supers; how high are you going to stack them
What is amazing is when you think a box and frames are full, just how much MORE the bees can pack into it. That said, if you generally keep clean equipment meaning limiting amount of wild comb and burr comb you should experience numbers near these as MAX practical numbers for the Langstroth 10 frame hive:
A single deep hive full of wall to wall bees with covers and bottom board and completely packed out frames in it: 46 kg, 100 pounds
A double deep hive full of wall to wall bees with covers and bottom board and completely packed out 20 frames in it: 86 kg, 190 pounds
Then start stacking honey supers: and add to those base numbers.
Deep super, full: 38 kg, 84 lbs PER deep super.
For example, if your hive is booming mid summer
5 deeps and you have not been an attentive beekeeper and have let them pack it out. If they didn't swarm on you then that hive can be: 190 + 84 + 84 + 84 = 442 pounds. (200kg)
These are real numbers you can and will see. These numbers come from weighing full boxes as well as weighing individual hive parts and full fat capped frames of honey, comparing those, and holding the thumb up to the light and tongue just right. However, like I said opening. If left untended for a long time it is amazing how much MORE the bees will pack into cracks and crevice spaces you did not realize was within the box.
What capacity of scale do you need to get? Depends on what your are wanting it to do.
*** The capacity rating of the scale to select is your maximum expected load +50%.. So look at the hive configuration you are trying to setup to weigh, look at the weights given here, do some math, multiply the answer by 1.5x and that is the size of scale that you need.
Hope that helps!