Introduction to Horizontal Hives - Long Langstroth Hive Build Part One
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- Part One of a series of videos for the Amateur Beekeepers Association - Hawkesbury Club. Mike offers an easy to follow introduction to horizontal hives with a view to build one for the club. He discusses some of the things bees like in a home and some of the elements he plans to incorporate into his Long Lang build.
Mike would like to acknowledge the owners of several images in this video as members of the Long Langstroth Hive Facebook Group and encourages anyone interested in Long Langs to join the group. Note that Mike is a member, but has no financial, intellectual or management interest in the group. If you see your image in this video and object to its use, please let me know and I'll remove it.
I switched to Long Lang this year and its very good,no heavy lifting anymore as gentlemen said in video,no accidentally squashed bees anymore….i even made chair so i sit behind hive,coffe cup next to me and do beekeeping easiest way possible
Sounds perfect to me. Gentle on the bees, gentle on your back. Long Langs are gaining popularity for sure.
I like the idea of Long Lang horizontal hives . I am going to experiment with them by connecting 4 regular vertical 10 frame , deep boxes by connecting them side by side , cutting passage ways between them and building a hinged roof to cover the boxes . No extra expenses to give a horizontal hive a try .
Good thinking, Rod. I know others have gone down that path with good results. Let me know how it works out for you.
You do a truly wonderful job teaching about bees. Thank you
Compliments always welcome, Brad. Seriously though, I do love to share my obsession with bees and the activities that surround them.
@@AussieMikesBees I finally will be returning to beekeeping next April after being away from it for over 25 years. I simply can't wait.
Good to hear, Brad. There are more pests to deal with these days, but still most rewarding.
Good information. Can you build a long lang by joining 3 to 4 supers together, with end 2 having 3 sides inner 2 back and front of super only? Im not handy enough and at the current costs close to $600 plus $150 courier its not a cheap swap from the traditional langstroth hive. This would atleast allow me to get the spacings correct taking into account removing of dovetail ends.
Thanks for watching, Michele. I know of people modifying their existing boxes into a LongLang, by joining three side by side. Some have dismantled the boxes and joined them in the long configuration, others screwed them together cutting out holes in the joining walls. Like any LongLang build, your imagination is free as long as bee space is respected. Good luck with your build and post pics when you’re done. Mike
I agree with you about entrances. I believe bees are capable of doing anything with any entrance, as it is in nature. But when I have a couple boxes and super, I do add upper entrances for them, and they always use it. And I love screen bottom boards. I can't image all the build up if you used no screen. But trees dont' have screens to both are ok.
Hey Brad, I use screened bottoms in all my 8 frame Langs. It’s a good way to see what’s going on without opening the hive. All the commercial beeks I know only use solids. The bees clean debris out, with occasional help. They don’t use upper entrances either. I’ve heard they’re considered essential in areas with snowy Winters. My mild Winters don’t necessitate them. Maybe I’ll experiment with them. In this LL Build I’m using two screened jar lids near the entrance. The jars screw in from beneath with oil or DE to kill SHB. We’ll see how well it works. Cheers Mike
@@AussieMikesBees Michael Bush has taught me, even in cold weather climate areas, to only keep a large bottom entrance open with no top entrance. This way, condensation only collects near the entrance. Or, he mentions, only to have a top entrance open. Yet heat rises so I think it's smart to only keep bottom entrances open in cold climates. Thats my take on it. Also, about supers and making honey, if one uses a queen excluder, science studies show that by adding a top entrance above the queen excluder could increase honey production by 30%. It's all about doing what is best for our bees in our specific zones isn't it?!!! But I always try to keep learning. So very excited to get started again after being away from it for me than 20 years. I have a new Flow Hive 2 and have made is quite beautiful. Excited to catch my first swarm. God Bless you.
I’m a little envious having watched Michael Bush videos. Learning from him live would be a thrill. The top entrance in snow country comments I’ve seen are about having an alternative to a snowed in bottom entrance. Although snow on the lid is a good insulator, when it blocks the entrance the bees could perish. I’m blessed to have mild, short Winters so really have no idea how beeks can go so long without their bees.
Langstroth lived in the northern hemisphere, Egypt’s and surrounding countries used hollow palm trees vertically for thousands of years
Thanks for watching, Benjamin. Yes, bees will occupy all sorts of cavities. In Australia, they live in eucalyptus (gum) trees, both living(vertical) and fallen(horizontal).
Have you ever made one including the flow frames,?
Great job
Hey Annabel, thanks for watching. Great question. I started beekeeping with Flow Hives so I am working on a design that has Flow frames as an option. I’m not including it in this build, but look out for version 2.
Just watching the council wanted me get those bees op horse land that cutout needs a chainsaw hope there still going well
If its' the one I'm thinking of, it's been there for years. Could do a trap out. I don't think they'd want a chainsaw taken to the tree.
I gave that same answer to them
Hi AussieMike
Are you on Facebook?
We'd love to have you in our group Australian Backyard Beekeeping.
Spread the word about the horizontal!
Good on you Aussie Mike!
Thanks, mate. Can’t say I’m any good at Facebook, but I’m in a bunch of groups. Just signed up to ABB. Thanks for letting me know about it.
Hello, do you know where I could purchase a horizontal hive that holds doubledeep langstroth frames?
I can’t help you with sourcing built LLs. I found only one place in Australia that makes a rudimentary design with deep Langstroth frames. That’s why I looked into making my own design starting with the frame. That way you can use any frame size you want.
@@AussieMikesBees I found someone!!! After almost a year of study and learning everything in site on bees, I have come to believe that bees do better overall, especially during winter months, on longer frames like they are most often found in nature. So will order the modified deep horizontal hive as well, but initially, I am have order a Flow Hive with an extra deep box. I plan on using industrial epoxy to adhere two deep Langstroth boxes together to hold the frames I made that are 19" wide x 18" deep. I'm super excited. I have yet to see anyone try this in Langstroth boxes. Thanks so much for all the conversation. I always walk away with something learned.
Flowhives have been controversial, but I found them effective. It's how I started beekeeping. One of the criticisms is that Flowhive beekeepers don't look after their bees and just turn the tap to take the honey. I know quite a few Flowhivers personally and many more through forums and have yet to find any of them less than enthusiastic and active beekeepers. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours. Be sure to post your results. Cheers, Mike
@@AussieMikesBees I understand this, for from their kickstarter then made a mistake of selling this as something that does not need keeping. Yet I have been a beekeeper for over 11 years in the past and so this was just easily overlooked. YET, the idea of not having to purchase all th extra extraction equipment is appealing to me in many ways. Thanks again for all your help. I truly enjoy your videos.
We have one at Illawarra Beekeepers Association that can be purchased from some place but it is not a pretty looking hive, it is made like your fridge at home and looks like an elevated chest freezer I would direct my enquiries towards Illawarra Beekeepers
Do not talk to people like they are stupid and quit coping from Dr. Leo
Merry Christmas to you too. I don’t believe I talk to anyone as if they are stupid. I certainly have no control over how people hear what I say, that’s up to them. As far as Dr. Leo goes, I do enjoy his work. I found out about him after I had published the second part in my series. From what I know of Dr. Leo, he would be happy to have more people learning about and keeping horizontal hives than he reaches. No ‘coping’ required.