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Mustang
Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 768 Location: Sunny Suffolk
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Cathryn
Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 19856 Location: Ceredigion
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15984
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Cathryn
Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 19856 Location: Ceredigion
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Mustang
Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 768 Location: Sunny Suffolk
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 14 7:38 am Post subject: |
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They are a long, deep hive. So, think of 2 deep Nationals, and join them together side-by-side, with the seperator being flexible / removable.
So, the theory goes... normal sized colony set up in one half of the hive. If they look like swarming, you can seperate the colony into each of the 2 sides and continue as 2 hives in one hive. Or, you can let the colony grow into a super colony, using all the space.
The supers go on top. They are normally 1/2 National sized, but you can put on full sized national supers as well. Each 1/2 sized super fits 6 normal sized frames. You can stack supers on top of each other if needed.
The roof can be split into 2 as well, one for each side.
There is an entrance at each end, which can easily be blocked off as needed. The entrances are actually underneath, and is built with an 8mm wide gap. There is a landing board which extends slightly beyond the hive body. The bees land on this and walk underneath, and then jump up through the mouse-proof entrance.
The floor is mesh, so open.
In winter, the colony will move towards the middle to keep warm. There is insulation built into the seperator and the roof as well.
They are the original design for the Beehaus.
Thorne shows and sells them here: https://www.thorne.co.uk/hives-and-bees/hives/dartington
Here's the info by the designer : A couple of sets of brackets is all it takes
All National stuff fits them. They are not really designed to be highly portable, therefore suitable for gardens. But they are designed to deal with swarms easily, to have good overwintering characteristics, are easy to manage (due to half-sized supers), and have the space to allow a large colony (or two) to exist.
To my inexperienced mind, they made sense when I first found them, and am just happy I can now try them out for real. |
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Cathryn
Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 19856 Location: Ceredigion
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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 8407 Location: South Cornwall
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