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Author Topic: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?  (Read 4476 times)

Offline adamant

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i am new to beekeeping. i just got two hives. some tell me that the hives being on a stand like this tend to make the bees agitated because they can feel the vibes from the others.. whats your feeling on this? i hate to take them down..




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Offline AllenF

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2011, 08:55:53 pm »
It looks great to me.   I like to use 20 foot steel solid strut for runners over blocks and can line up to 8 hives on them.  I never have a problem with them.   

Offline G3farms

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2011, 08:59:29 pm »
Looks good to me also, never heard of it causing a problem. I have several sitting together on long 4 x 4's.
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Offline iddee

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2011, 11:25:39 pm »
Who told you that?

In Europe, they stack them on trailers, up against each other and stack them 6 or more high. They travel all over with them like that.

A few on 2X6's certainly won't cause any problems.
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Offline Course Bee

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2011, 11:48:33 pm »
I just built a similar stand for some of my hives. They seem to be doing great.
Tim

Offline Scadsobees

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2011, 12:15:31 am »
Looks good, with room for expansion!

I'm not sure where that idea came from, I routinely stack hives on top of eachother with only the top of the one between the two.  Sometimes only a double screen!

-rick
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Offline schawee

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2011, 01:24:30 am »
i have them side by side and no problem at all.two yards have 20 side by side.you will have no problem with the way you have them.        .....schawee
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Offline Course Bee

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2011, 01:27:21 am »
Do you face them all the same direction or go back and forth every other one?
Tim

Offline adamant

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2011, 06:10:16 am »
Do you face them all the same direction or go back and forth every other one?

face them the same direction

Offline mikecva

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2011, 08:45:55 am »
I like the setup except the spacing. I generly keep 3 feet between the hives but that is so I can work from both sides of the hives without bumping another hive (my girls do not care for my butt bumping their home.)  :lau:
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Offline Larry Bees

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2011, 08:54:59 am »
That's the same way that I have my hives, So far, I haven't heard of any complaints. Larry

Offline yockey5

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #11 on: July 02, 2011, 09:06:45 am »
LOOKING GREAT.

Offline adamant

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #12 on: July 02, 2011, 11:11:57 am »
went out there today and they did not seem to agitated. made up a new feed ratio :25 lbs of sugar to 4 gal of water. i think my old feed was to weak.  i did notice as i was filling the feeders that the sugar was not 100% dissolved! (water was warm not hot when mixing) spent some more time mixing and it seemed OK.. if it settles to the bottom of the feeder you think it will be fine? took your advice and added support boards on the 2x8"s see pic..


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Offline cowboygourmet

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #13 on: July 02, 2011, 11:53:18 am »
Looks really good to me and I have something similar for my hives.  I do like some spacing between them so its easy to get around and work the bees though.
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Offline Intheswamp

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #14 on: July 02, 2011, 12:35:12 pm »
That looks nice.  You can straddle the support to work from the side.  Are the 2x4's screwed down to the vertical supports?  I was with a beek yesterday that has some mobility issues and he set his tool box beside the hive and sat down on it to inspect the brood chamber...You could use a small sheet of plywood laid over the supports for a seat while you worked if you felt so inclined.

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Offline Intheswamp

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #15 on: November 18, 2011, 10:11:00 am »
adamant, how has your hive stand worked out for you?

Ed
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

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Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #16 on: November 18, 2011, 12:31:19 pm »
went out there today and they did not seem to agitated. made up a new feed ratio :25 lbs of sugar to 4 gal of water. i think my old feed was to weak.  i did notice as i was filling the feeders that the sugar was not 100% dissolved! (water was warm not hot when mixing) spent some more time mixing and it seemed OK.. if it settles to the bottom of the feeder you think it will be fine? took your advice and added support boards on the 2x8"s see pic..


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4 gallons of water weighs @32 pounds. water weighs about 8 pounds to the gallon. Sounds like your mixture is allfully thin for a winter feed.
That is not even 1:1.
2:1 would be closer to 1 1/2 gallons.
25 pounds of sugar to 12 pounds of water.
When I mix it, I mix it until it turns yellow and the crystals are disolved.
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #17 on: November 18, 2011, 09:05:00 pm »
It seems to me that people (especially beekeepers) often obsess over things that are not really that relevant.  The idea that hives close together set off other hives when they get defensive may be an issue when you have AHB, but it's really not an issue when you have nice bees.  People often seem to make an issue out of something that is not really an issue.
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Offline kingbee

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #18 on: November 19, 2011, 01:29:13 am »
... some tell me that the hives being on a stand like this ...make the bees agitated because they... feel the vibes ...whats your feeling...

To be honest with you I 'ain't' getting no vibes at all, and I doubt your bees are getting any negative vibes from this setup.  Looks good.  I vote with Iddee and Michael. 

But since I have a similar setup I think you will find out sooner or later (like I did) that it is better if your 2X6s or 8s are further apart from one another, say on 16 inch centers.  It makes your hives more stable and the center of gravity is easier to find or not as critical.  Also a stud or two between (inside) the 2 by lumber would give you something to go around with your tie down straps and that would help hold the boxes down tightly onto the stand, not just bind the boxes together. 

Offline Monster1970

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Re: this is my set up. do u think there is anything wrong with this?
« Reply #19 on: November 19, 2011, 07:38:25 am »
My setup is similar. I use square tube steel for the legs with the horizontal boards bolted to them. I have to keep my hives up off the deck to avoid the dreaded cane toad getting a feed. I have not noticed any vibration or other issues with my hives. I do leave a gap between them to allow airflow in the Queensland heat and to allow for working room, but not for any other reason.
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anything