Thanks for contacting us, and for your question. If I do build an insulated hive I will sandwich the styrofoam between two pieces of plywood. To cut an entrance, drill a 1/2 hole then use a router with a 1/2 straight bit. The heat generated by a large colony is significant, and it will need a way to get out because it wont escape through the insulated walls. High legs mean convenient hive visits and no mice and possums to worry about. The bottom will go into this groove. Boxes are lighter and generally can be carried by one person. Page upward on this blog where there is an excellent answer to your placement question. Thanks! The Easy Glide will allow for self-opening and closing with just a light initial touch. Makes being a beginner beekeeper less stressful. I would need the address of the nearest port of call to your home location and then I could work up a price of shipping. They are compatible with the US Langstroth standards so you can use your existing wooden frames and 10 frame boxes on top of our boxes. The lifespan of the honeybee is around four to six weeks, so if your . We have a saying in the U.K. that damp kills bees, not cold. Im a big fan of ventilation in my Langstroth hives and think seriously about your judgment and looking forward to spring to install my bees. Interesting concept. I might get one for my partner in crime! Position a leg and attach it with two 3-1/2 screws (marked X) and one 2-1/2 screw (marked O). I made sure to check measurements for my hive before cutting. The back is 2-1/8" wide. Thats very clear, and makes perfect sense! Sounds easy, and it could be done; keeping in mind that the frames would need to be removed and taken to wherever the extractor is set up. I would place the brood nest on the end where the entrance is. The front rail has an upper entrance, 3" long by 1/4" wide and slanting downward from inside to outside. The simple answer is that unless a hive gets a new queen or new brood is added, a hive will die off within a few weeks without a queen. Under the lid is storage that can be used as a frame rest or to hold hive tools. They are screened on the inside to prevent robbing, etc. I use frames without wire, and harvest by cutting out combs. A special filling material used in the top cover and side walls of Thermo Hives provides thermal insulation, offering a suitable habitat for the colony in different climateconditions. I have made a powder-coated tin covered, 20mm foam inside, tight wrap around for my hives, complete with piano hinge and latch and 4 entrance holes, 3 of which are now plugged with cork as it is early winter here. It is well thought-out and well-made. It can also hold the Interior Canvas Cover which is included in each hive purchase. A slatted rack getting ready for shipment. The Valkyrie in the shop awaiting transport shows 2 1/2 fat from the slats to the bottom of the bottom bar in a standard deep frame. One 12 board for the hive body. A 1-inch thick piece of R5-rated hard insulation over the inner cover in the winter position apparently will prevent condensation from building up inside the hive during the winter. I too have a new Valkyrie hive and I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and installing bees into this beautifully constructed hive. Included is a fitted sheet of rigid insulation which protects the colony from icy-cold or super-heated ground temperatures year-round: less work for the ladies!. In comparison, a 10-frame box can weight up to 80 lbs. Skeps are woven baskets used to house bees. We've partnered with Tara Chapman to promote her amazing online beekeeping course that will get you started successfully. Thank you for any information you can provide. A few weeks ago I was racking my brain to figure out a way to donate a frame of eggs to a friend who was afraid her top-bar had become queenless. So far, all is well. The basic configuration of a Langstroth hive is composed of seven parts: the hive stand, bottom board, entrance reducer, brood box, super, inner over and telescoping outer cover. Many beekeepers gravitate towards horizontal hives because they require less heavy lifting. It will make a big difference and help you a lot. Then flip the box over and attach two more legs. The innovative all-round double layer insulation helps keeping the colony warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I will be putting bees into it as soon as its warm enough to make a split here in Washington. They were using foundation in their frames, so they put a drone foundation frame in position #2 and on the outside of the honey stores frames, and the burr-comb just stopped. To be fairly precise. $256.49. Insulating outside the hive body: We used Roxul insulation. I live on Long Island in New York, USA. Sponsored. The average beekeeper cannot move a full 10-frame deep box by themselves. The Langstroth hive just got a facelift. Circular saw with a guide to cut plywood. Boxes come in different depths and widths. But thats my opinion. Pre-drilling the landing board is essential to prevent splitting. Specially designed rigid packing material. Hi Debbie and thank you for the nice comment! So overwintering the Valkyrie in a damp environment will be interesting. This is why there's no heavy lifting. Detail plan. The hive stack can be too high and tip over, especially on windy days or in windy climates. It ultimately comes down to your own preferences. In two gorgeous colors, grey and charcoal, these pads are beautiful and functional as well! We have sudden cold snaps here. For more on long hive beekeeping, see the long hive discussion page. Many beekeepers prefer to use foundation. ), Sliding miter saw to cut the two-by boards. The hive is well-sealed, well-insulated, and well-ventilated, creating an environment where many of the risk factors affecting bees are greatly . A slatted rack getting ready for shipment. Remember, also, that the flow frames are wider, so 24 of them wouldnt quite fit into the Valkyrie as with the non-flow standard frames. Roxul insulation was put outside the trap door and then another layer of plywood built to close in the cavity. Because a single hive may require many boxes, the cheaper price point may be right for you. I worry more about heat than cold, although heat is probably less of a problem in a long hive. So they can bee 2, 3, or 4 boxes long. Thanks so much! The depth of all these cuts were 3/8 for ease and consistency. These hives also fit in smaller spaces, which is convenient for small backyards and beeyards. Disadvantages of a horizontal hive with extra deep frames TOO COOL!!! The painted top should last many years. Honey bees in my 13 long hives demonstrated that strategically placed insulation is a huge step in reducing much of their ventilating activity. Check out his plans at https://horizontalhive.com/how-to-build/long-langstroth-plans.shtml . The Langstroth hive is a classic beehive. Wow, very nice, I wish we could buy these in the UK! Note: I have no affiliation with HorizontalHives.com and give them the credit for providing free plans! Hopefully by next spring my husband will have built a second Long Langstroth hive and I can put the second colony in it, omit the supers and add vented gable roofs. His design revolutionized the way people kept bees and allowed for both more manipulation and more humane practices. Not all long hives are designed equally, however, the Valkyrie does have many features for the colony to achieve homeostasis without unnecessary energy output. LXDF - Lazutin Extra Deep Frame $14.00. The location is mountainous terrain at 4200-feet backed by ponderosa pine and Douglas-firs. Insulated Plastic Langstroth Bee Hive Boxes Bee Hives Beehive Beekeeping House. Surprise! There are more boxes to handle when moving and during honey harvesting. A high maintenance schedule for anyone! I Fixed The Langstroth Hive (For The Bees AND The Keeper!) Im not sure how to do it yet, but I want to set up a section where long-hive beekeepers, especially Valkyrie and Valhalla beekeepers, can compare notes. I never know as much as I need to, but I muddle through. Continue the process with slits, a mist of moisture and add your bees. One metre above the ground? LH32 - Lazutin Hive 32 Frame $950.00. The non-native European Honey Bee is the state insect of: Not one native bee is a state insect. So the soil temperature would swing from hot to cold, wet to dry in ongoing cycles. If not run them all through the table saw so the width is uniform (e.g., 11-1/8). Apply wood glue and attach the top plywood panel. LT8F - Lazutin Trap 8 Frame $50.00. The long langstroth would be your easiest bet to avoid heavy lifting, if you went with the layens, you could use this style. Feeding supplies and containers can be placed directly inside the hive body when using less than 24 frames, so the need of an exterior boardman feeder was eliminated completely. Even if a beekeeper lives in a similar area as you do, what they do may not necessarily work for you. Check for square and use a bar clamp to pull it in square if its out of line. Many beekeepers who fail like to blame the equipment, but I think thats nonsense. Im confident youll enjoy your Valkyrie and all credit goes to Bruce and his craftsmanshipsimple as that. Glad to address your flow hive question: it seems that the frames which are used in the flow hive are sized differently than the standard deep frame used in the Valkyrie Long Hive. In the 1-3/4 rim the long strips (Strip-2-Long, part c) go between the short strips (Strip-2-Short, part d). For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Mitchell took 2.3 million temperature measurements from 12 hives 8 different styles. The anatomy of . A green frame manufactured specifically with drone-size cells is another option to offer the colony. Please note: some beeks have been very creative with modifications to the Valkyrie, after purchase and assembly. VEVOR Rubber Speed Bump, 2 Pack 2 Channel Speed Bump Hump, 40" Long Modular Speed Bump Rated 22000 LBS Loading, 40.2 . Its wonderful to see that you use a foundationless frame (no wires) because thats what we use in our Valkyrie Long Hive. In transferring frames from Langstroth boxes, what order would I place them in? Also, if you get a Valkyrie, be sure to report back. My husband, who assembled the hive for me was very impressed with the attention to detail in the workmanship and the clarity of the assembly instructions. What a show! This is so cool. 1. 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Is there very little rainfall, or quite a lot? This seems to be a very straightforward solution, but thats just my opinion ? I don't raise queens, but this might be a great way to raise queens too. (Note: 1 extra deep frame of honey can weigh up to 20 pounds.) Clamp all four corners using right angle clamps. Feeding can be done adding 3 or 4 frames of honey to the end farthest from the entrance. (Alternative: router with 3/4 straight bit.). To assemble, I used wood glue and 3 screws to hole the ends together. I had the pleasure of meeting them both and viewing the new hives in production. Nancy, If the board is slightly cupped, the concave side should look inside.). Thank you. Vivien and Bruce. Please feel free to email me on our company email address: thebeekeeperscarpenter@outlook.com. Now that I reread Johns comment, Im still not sure. The quality is amazing I would recommend this to any bee keeper. Cordless drill; small bit for pilot holes; 1/2 bit for entrance; driver bits for screws. The Apimaye 10 Frame Langstroth Insulated Beehive is a standard beehive in the Langstroth style. I cant quite tell how it is that you harvest anything? While researching natural beekeeping, I came across the Long Langstroth Hive and plans by Dr. Leo Sharashkin on horizontal hive.com. Then he takes the hive apart for shipping. Meanwhile, Vivien is putting together the business end, learning about shipping practices, packaging, bookkeeping, web management, and even beekeeping. Langstroth Hive Setup The Hive Stand The hive stand is your first step in setting up a Langstroth hive and is one of those pesky decisions you have to make. I have pulled about 8 frames of brood out of this hive this year. Just wondering if too much condensation might build up without bottom ventilation. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. I think it will be great for this crazy Texas weather, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh, press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Yes, beekeeping is more than insulating a hive, but it has become a good addition to the Valkyrie long hive. Cut the two-by-twelve board into four pieces: 44-13/16 (2) and 21-3/8 (2). For the guide, I use a factory-edge strip of 1/2-thick plywood, 96 long by 6 wide, which I clamp to the work piece. To attach, predrill holes and attached with glue and screws. It is highly expandable, and each box holds eight to ten frames. However, if weight may be an issue for you, you should consider an 8-frame hive for easy lifting, inspection and honey removal. Any change from the original format will void the warranty. The Apimaye 10 Frame Langstroth Insulated Beehive has been tailor-made with the needs of the user in mind. 8 frame (width x length ) 352mm x 508mm. Because 10-frame hives hold two more frames, bees have more room to lay eggs and produce a bigger food supply, which also means you can harvest extra honey. Ideally they do not run out or have stores split on 2 sides of the brood nest, they cannot shift to the other end in the middle of the winter. It is an ingenious answer to two problems at once. The wool cover stays on the canvas cover 24/7/365 and helps to avoid the temperature spikes that can be so troublesome. The top was glued and screwed together and should be loose fitting enough to allow air to escape and to easily remove and put back on. With 30 frames, you might have brood in 3 through 14, and honey in 1-2, and 15-30, as an example. It costs under $50 in materials and only takes a few hours to build. You must be very athletic, indeed. The long walls go between the end walls. Below, we compare 10-frame and 8-frame hive designs according to different factors. Next I ripped the bottom pieces from the shorter half. heat was escaping from the bottom of the hive. Cover the frames with a layer of burlap. (You can also use a hand saw, but do clamp a straight board to the work piece to serve as a guide. Through our sustainable designs from re-purposed materials like pallets, barn wood, and reclaimed materials often thrown out, we are able to create beautiful home designs that can be enjoyed! I have a new Valkyrie hive from Right Hand LLP. You can extend its life by covering it with a piece of aluminum flashing, 24 wide by 50-7/16 long. Since they start at the top, there is no room to move further up. Perhaps his complied resources (encourage you to read originals) will help you understand the Valkyries continuous use of the wool. The Apimaye Medium Insulated Super for Langstroth Beehive, while an expensive option, is the best product on the market for raising . By clicking on these ads, making a purchase, or taking other action, we can earn a little extra money to fund future projects. This horizontal hive model costs under $50 in materials, and is a two-hour project requiring only basic tools. Provide a ramp that connects the ground with the hives entrance. If the long Langstroth has honey supers on top, then youre still needing to lift a pretty hefty weight once the frames are full of honey, right? Id like to get a group together to compare notes on using the Valkyrie and trade management ideas. When youve made your decision, give me a call to get the shipping/handling price. Other's only use the term for honey collection boxes. Way too heavy and removing frames to work the hive just ticks the bees off to no end. Bearding to a tight cluster signals the colony is reacting to hive temperature extremes. It says: If the insect is what the name implies, write the two words separately; otherwise run them together. Yes, Terry, there were holes drilled in the roof of the Valkyrie. LBF1 - Bottom frame extension with screws and brackets $7.00. *Grind sugar in a coffee grinder to make sugar powder for dusting honey bees. easy in and out. The best part, they are super cost effective to build. The hive is built to keep predatory insects out, so, it doesnt seem likely that a moth could enter inside.