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Author Topic: Observation Hive  (Read 2871 times)

Offline brushwoodnursery

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Observation Hive
« on: February 06, 2013, 04:30:47 pm »
Just volunteered at my local Nature Center to maintain their observation hive.
What a neat teaching tool!
What a pain in the ass to inspect!

Does anyone know a good source of information for care and maintenance of these things? I know some already but would like to do my best to get it right the first time.
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Offline D Coates

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2013, 06:05:53 pm »
Should be easy to inspect because it's an observation hive.  You should be able to see everything you need to and shouldn't have to open it unless you need to.  The only time I actually crack mine open is when they're beginning to get too crowded and or the queen is preparing to swarm.  Unhook it, carry it outside, open it up, steal the appropriate frame(s) and bees, insert the replacement frame(s), close it up, carry it back inside, and hook it back up.  It takes 15 minutes max.  Mine is a 5 frame so it's not easy to move around but I only get into it a half dozen times a year max.
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Offline brushwoodnursery

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2013, 06:33:06 pm »
Oh, if it were only that easy. This one is built for public. Very big and sturdy. Also, it is 3 frames deep at the bottom so the queen may not show her face much. There are 24 screws to undo in order to break it open.
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Offline edward

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2013, 07:16:58 pm »
How many frames in all?

The observation hive I look after I keep week so it doesn't swarm, doesn't get big , doesn't create problems, my idea is that it should grow big enough to survive the winter.

People just like seeing the bees crawling about, no need for a monster hive.

mvh edward  :-P

Offline brushwoodnursery

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2013, 08:20:26 pm »
It has 5 deep frames in all.
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Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2013, 08:26:55 pm »
I only open my ob hive to control it from swarming. Last fall I removed all but one frame and started a new hive. All 3 frames had q cells on them. I changed the hive from 3 deeps to 2 deeps in the bottom and 6 mediums above them. I did have to change out the entrance tube after the bees kept dieing in it and cloging it up. I suspect it was contaminated because after I replaced it the bees stopped dieing in the tube. I did not open it, i just changed out the tube. I don't plan on going into it again until there is a reason to. If there is something wrong, I will probably see it on the exposed sides.
Jim
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Offline brushwoodnursery

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2013, 08:59:08 am »
Sounds like it will be much less work than I anticipated. Then again, there's the issue of keeping a support hive. Any thoughts on how hard it would be to keep the support hive on my property (15 minutes away)? Seems like it might be a bad idea to pull a frame of brood and not place it in a hive for 20 minutes or more. Transport it in a tiny nuc?
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Offline D Coates

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2013, 10:21:36 am »
20 minutes with or without nurse bees is not problem unless you leave it in a hot car.  When I capture swarms I always steal a frame of open brood from one of the nucs I've got.  To avoid getting the queen I simply shake off the nurse bees and put the unattended frame in the capture nuc box and head to the swarm location.  It may take 20 to 30 minutes until I get bees on those frames again.  I've never had any trouble and it seems the swarms really move in quickly (and stay!) with all the unattended larva screaming for food.  As for the OB hive I steal those with the nurse bees.  They do just fine as long as they have ventilation and have kept them out of a hive for up to 45 minutes but I'd bet they could go for hours.

The OB hive you're working on does not sound like it was made with ease of operation in mind.  I'd consider reviewing the unit and seeing if there are some things you could improve to allow you to get into and out of it easily.  24 screws leaves you, ...screwed.
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Offline brushwoodnursery

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2013, 10:45:27 am »
 24 screws leaves you, ...screwed.
:laugh:
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Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2013, 11:44:11 am »
>Does anyone know a good source of information for care and maintenance of these things?

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesobservationhives.htm
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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Offline mnevsehir

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Offline brushwoodnursery

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2013, 12:21:54 pm »
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Offline mnevsehir

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Re: Observation Hive
« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2013, 12:33:10 pm »
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