


This is the reason here at funny bug bees and wood works we alternate colors each time we buy paint from our supplier. This alternating paint scheme enables your queens and in fact worker bees to more quickly find their home and prevents them from going into the wrong hive on accident. Then hive number 2 should be painted light first box, dark second box. hive 1 should be painted dark first box, light second box. Especially if you have hives next to each other. It is for this reason that we recommend you paint each of your boxes in different colors. Bees are good at making out patterns, blocks of color, but not very good at seeing the detail of any kind. I liken it to old 8-bit computer graphics from the 1980's. Use multi-colored a painted hive body and honey super instead. Wax Coated Langstroth Beehive Kit Bee Hives Complete Bee Hive Fir Wood Two Levels Bee Box 10 Frames Langstroth Beehive for Beekeeping US 15.9-24. This includes multiple boxes in the same hive. Don't paint all your hives the same color, choosing instead to alternate the color of your beehive boxes. Then you may be faced with the loss of both hives! If you alternate the color of your beehive boxes, you solve this problem. Unless she manages to kill the queen and then is killed by the workers. If she returns and enters the wrong painted hive body she will be promptly killed by either the workers of that hive or the queen herself. She may even make several flights to the DCA over the first few days after she emerges to make sure she has enough sperm to carry on her duties for the next couple of years. This can be several miles from your apiary. Queens raised from NUCs or from eggs inside a hive that have swarmed must make a mating flight to a DCA (drone congregation area).

Either way, both of these hives can be expanded, with the ability to add more boxes. The queen can also be killed by returning to the bee yard and not being able to find the exact box she emerged from. Discover the Best Plastic Bee Hives to Buy (UPDATED) With our list of the 2 Top Plastic Beehives. This is why you should alternate the color of your beehive boxes. A multi-colored painted hive body can solve this. But, some beekeepers do add a candy board or similar underneath the quilt box – just for insurance.One of the many reasons for losses of hives after a swarm is the newly hatched virgin queen returning to the wrong hive after her mating flight, and being killed. Properly prepared colonies should not need to be fed by the beekeeper during Winter. However, if you live in a very cold or moist region, it certainly does not hurt to give your colonies this extra bit of care.Īs we prepare our colonies for Winter, our focus should be not on keeping the warm – but rather making sure they have enough food reserves and good hive ventilation. This is a Complete Set that includes everything youll need to begin or expand your bee hive project. In fact, most beekeepers do not use quilt boxes.

Does every beekeeper need to use them? No. Making your own quilt box for your hive is very simple and a life saver for some colonies. This makes inspections aggravating so it is best to remove them and store until Winter. The active colony will propolis the wire or canvas bottom to other hive components. In this way it functions as an addition ventilation source – but most beekeepers remove them. Your beehive quilt box can be left on the hive during Summer with the shavings removed. watch for unwelcomed pests taking up residence in the quilt box (mice?).check your shavings a couple of times over Winter – they should never be soggy.Shavings are better than sawdust which packs tight or straw that may ferment.A deeper box 4” can be used for extra insulation.Length planks for both 8-frame and 10-frame planks are similar in length when cutting. The planks for the width should be cut to 15 ¾ inches. This is when you have 1-inch thick planks. Canvas or unbleached cotton can be used for the bottom ( you don’t have to use wire) When building a 10-frame beehive box, cut the planks of lumber to make the length of the box at 19 and 3/8 inches.Other beekeepers do not use their inner cover with a quilt box. Some beekeepers place the quilt box on the top box of the hive, with the inner cover over that for more insulation and then the top cover. If you have a candy board on your hive, the quilt box can go on top of that directly under your top outer cover. There are several options for installation.
#Bee hive boxes install
Install your beehive quilt box on your hive right before cold arrives.
#Bee hive boxes how to
By subscribing, I consent to receiving emails. Another part in the series on how to make your own beekeeping equipment, showing how to build a medium bee box to make deep or shallow boxes just change the.
