Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: BrentX on December 21, 2010, 09:51:49 pm
-
So I have built a few 4 frame boxes for growing the bee yard.
One of the intended uses is for catching swarms. When used in that way the little nuc boxes will get a few frames of comb and a shot of lemon grass oil. In this application would a screened bottom board be more effective than a solid bottom?
-
With my traps, I always use solid bottoms. I think the swarm may take to the closed up box better than with an open hive. Maybe someone will chime n that has ran both to see which catches more.
-
Thanks. By my way of thinking like a bee, a closed up space would be more attractive to a new colony looking for a place to grow. But thought I would check here for confirmation with others experience.
-
I'm not sure where I got the plans from now, I just checked Beesource and they weren't on there, but I built some 5 frame medium swarm traps that had a SBB with a removable bottom cover. Catch you swarm, bring them home, and once the queen is laying well, remove the bottom board. I got the plans somewhere on the internet but basically a nuc with a migratory top that could be hung from a tree.
-
I just use old nucs for traps. Leave them in there until they need to move into a 10 frame hive. I also have 2 old 10 frame boxes made from 2 inch wood (very old and every rough) that I set out for traps.
-
http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/plans/5nuc.pdf (http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/plans/5nuc.pdf)
Try these plans from Tim .
-
So I have built a few 4 frame boxes for growing the bee yard.
One of the intended uses is for catching swarms. When used in that way the little nuc boxes will get a few frames of comb and a shot of lemon grass oil. In this application would a screened bottom board be more effective than a solid bottom?
I recommend the Dcoates super simple Nuc design ,I'll be hanging them across the county :-D
http://www.beekeepingforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1733 (http://www.beekeepingforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1733)
I know he has them here and other places this is the first I found doing a Google search with his name and NUC
Tommyt
edited to say
I found more on his Idea/Plans
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,27006.msg212166.html#msg212166 (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,27006.msg212166.html#msg212166)
http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa190/Drew454/Nuc%20plans/ (http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa190/Drew454/Nuc%20plans/)
-
i use screened bottoms when i set traps out that are going to have to be trucked home. it's easier to close them and not worry about ventilation on the drive back. i also don't have to change anything when i put them in the yard. just plop them down as they are.
other than that, i would have no preference. the solids are cheaper to make/buy so if that's an issue, go with them. you can always tape screen over the entrance when you move them.
-
I make my $2 swarm traps out of 3/8 plywood, 1/4 Luan and free coroplast signs. They are light and cheap so I don't worry about loosing a few. I too find that bees seem to like a closed in and dark space.
(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/gallery2/d/1985-2/IMG_2505.JPG)