Cool and crazy beehives

**Calum** · 03-02-2012, 03:45 PM

So here are two, from the net, what are your crazy ideas?

**Calum** · 03-02-2012, 03:55 PM

And I'll be building a three frame version of this observation hive soon I hope (two frames are too small - frames have to be constantly removed and removing 50% is too much)...

**EmsE** · 03-02-2012, 10:09 PM

http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/observationhive.phtml

How many bee keepers would be allowed to have one of these in the house? Not me

already had that conversation.

**Calum** · 03-02-2012, 10:58 PM

My wife gave me permission for this in our garden:
http://www.imkerverein-osnabrueck.de...chaukasten.pdf
So I'll have to get a wiggle on if I want it in the garden this spring!

**fatshark** · 04-02-2012, 08:52 PM

Calum ... Is that a kit for sale (in which case where from?) or a DIY observation hive? Apologies, I speak no German other than what I've learned from The Great Escape. The second thing on your link translates to a "Dance protractor" which I presume is to decipher the wiggle dance and work out where the bees are foraging. Whatever, it looks great ... I might try and persuade SWMBO to allow me to swap the mini-nucs for one of these.

__
fatshark

**Calum** · 05-02-2012, 08:13 PM

Hi Fatshark,
thats to make for yourself. The frame sizes I use are different, so I had to recalculate all the lengths and heights, I am working on the assumption that the width needs no alteration as the comb width and bee space should be a constant.
Whats a SWMBO?
You are right about the dance protractor, I fancy I'll make one when I have my observation hive up and running, hours of fun for all the family and visitors. Nice gimmik to be able to show customers where the honey in the glass they just bought could have come from!
ttfn
Calum

**fatshark** · 01-09-2012, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Calum

My wife gave me permission for this in our garden:
http://www.imkerverein-osnabrueck.de...chaukasten.pdf
So I'll have to get a wiggle on if I want it in the garden this spring!

Calum, did you build this and was it a success? I'm looking for a project for the winter

I had a good look at the plans and reckon it should be pretty straightforward to build though I'm not sure what I'd use for the insulation yet. I've also got to find some reasonable quality, weatherproof, hinges and other fittings.

Are you going to overwinter a colony in it?

Cheers.

**Calum** · 04-09-2012, 08:59 AM

Hi
haven't built it yet, using a three frame one from a friend of mine.
no you cannot overwinter in it as the bees need frames side by side to keep warm (at least here where -20°C is not uncommon). Weatherproof hinges - brass - ask a good chandelry they will happily charge you an arm and a leg...

The one I borrowed uses Wood Fiber Insulation, I took the frames out of it three weeks ago and put them in a 6 frame hive for overwintering - they built up fine.
Old link seems dead - here is a new one or here is another one
and how to build a beehouse