Thanks for your promotion of the Layens hive. We need a few more experienced keepers touting them. I’ve built 11 nucs and 3 insulated longs so for. Have 3 more longs in the works for next season. The bees didn’t even notice our hot July. Glad I started out with the Layens. I built 1 Lazutin nuc to try. I need more bee inventory before I can try it though.
I have chronic pain and am going to build a Layens horizontal hive so it's easier on my back and legs. I saw a video where Dr. Leo said these were easier to access for people with disabilities. Thanks for the video!
I am a 1st yr. Bee Keeper. I built 2 Langstroth Long Hives (Deep Frames). I caught 2 local swarms in May and both are doing great. I really like the width of the Langstroth and the length of the Layens for the benefit of the bee's. So I made a third Langstroth with the width of the Layens. I make all my frames now and made modified Langstroth/Layens frames. I found this video a couple of weeks ago at ua-cam.com/video/F__cOtAcVZM/v-deo.html and I am now going to make double deep Langstroths so I can seperate them and use a deep frame extractor.
Anyone with a bad back or joint issues should stay away from the Langstroth hive. I've kept bees in Langstroth for 25 years. My age is starting to catch up to me now and it's tough lifting a hundred pound deep when it's full of honey. I'm looking at the Layen's basically for the ease of honey extraction and lifting. I don't sell honey anymore and only use if for home things. I'll crush it or find and extractor (they exist) that will take care of it for me. Last year I just brought a bucket out to the yards and scraped the honey and wax off the plastic foundation of the Langstroth frames and put everything back in the hives. I did this prior to the dearth and it worked just fine. Later in the summer my boxes were re-drawn with Japanese knotweed which I left for the bees to overwinter. I'm excited about the Layen's. I think it will work just fine. I'll build two or three and start from there. I like your frames better than the real Layen's frames because I have a Pile of medium frames that haven't been built yet.
Building long langstroph hives because I am going away from the 10 frame boxes. This way I can still occasionally buy a nuc from locals. Otherwise all the hives I am building are insulated layens. The colonies in the layens hives didn't even seem to notice it was hot outside...and we get hot out here! Even the long lang hive never bearded! Maybe one day I can offer other Texans Layens nucs instead of the typical lang nucs! :)
I am also in Texas, south Brewster county. Thinking of building 10 frame double deep frames. I run 5 and 10 frames. Getting hard for me these day to lift the boxes. Would like to chat my ideas and hear yours.
@@bigsmile542 I am an hour west of Houston which is almost a whole different country from your part of Texas! :) I really like the Layens frames and built quite a few of them. Not sure what you mean by 10 frame double deep frames... Dr Leo has a plan for a a double deep long langstroph hive but it looks like getting to those lower frames would be a real pain.
Thanks for the good review of the layens frames. I just started bee keeping in 2021here in the middle of PA. Got a swarm trap from Dr Leo Sharashkins website and used his plans to build a 12 framer. Ended up catching 2 swarms. One, the week after Mothers day and the other July 4th! They did better than I wouldve thought. Ended up getting 19lbs from the first swarm and left the later one with all they had just to make sure they had plenty for the long cold winters here. Cant thank you enough for all your videos! Super informative and you seem like a great guy! Keep on making your vids cause there are lots of us beginners out here eager to learn! Bryan C.
Hi Bryan! Newbie here too. You mention long cold winters. Where are you? How did your bees overwinter? We are central Ontario and I’m hoping insulated layens will protect my colonies
Charlie, I'm about 25 miles west of State College, PA. On the Alaghenny Plateau. January was frigid here. The bees from both gives came out 1 day at the end of Feb. But then it got cold again and the July 4th swarm died with honey still in the frames. So on warm days I set those frames outside my other hive and they happily cleaned them up!
I got a lot of Langstroth deep and medium hives. A Layens frame is 16 inches deep. A lang deep and medium put together is 15.5 inches deep. You can take a deep frame drawn out attach medium to it =15.5, take a medium drawn out attach a deep =15.5 both are only 1/2 inch shorter than a Layens so the hive will need to be wider and same height as Layens hive. Will have to try a few see what best way to change them over.
I've got 2 hives where I did just that - attach an extension onto a standard Langstroth from making them deeper. It seems in my observations that the bees are doing just fine in these hives, however the frames are more clumsy for me to handle vs the Layens frames. The nice thing about bees is they seem to adapt well and are probably not as picky as we are about what kind of house they live in.
I'm stuck using the double deep model due to finances. I would have to buy a new spinner since the existing spinner I have access to is langstroth. Not really looking forward to the heavy frames. But it will beat a heavy box. Mine is a 15 frame hive that I just finished.
I enjoy your presentation style and content. I agree that new hobby beekeepers should start with Layens. Like you I am experienced beekeeper running all medium langs. I build all my boxes from dimensional lumber similar to the Layens for the thermal stability. In this video you compare double deep frames to Layens frames. yes, the DDs are huge, way too big to handle. Not a good comparison. Since all my brood boxes are double mediums and I over winter in double mediums, I will experiment with double medium frames. Double mediums frame comb area is about 18"x13", only slightly larger in area than Layens at 13"x16". Roughly a Layens frame on its side. For most of the year my boxes are a double medium and only during a flow when I want to collect honey will I add a queen excluder and a super. Thus the double medium frame will give me similar one level access during the part of the year I need to access the brood chamber and remove the frame gap in the brood chamber. I believe that double medium frames will give me similar advantages of the Layens but retain all of my existing equipment. What is your opinion on this idea?
Hi i am on the NC/ VA border Have about 60 hives double 8frame langs and 8frame triple medium langs stacked hives. I have built 2 horizonal 14 frame lang long deep will put a deep and medium frame together they 19 w 15.5 h as a test in 2022. Also a few single deep longs and 10--14&20 frame layens conversions. Looking forward to spring of 22.
I think the mediums are a smart way to keep bees as well. I've only ran mediums for almost 10 years prior to using the Layens hives and have also done quite well with them. Are you running 8 frame or 10 frame hives? I always run 5s and 8s with my Langstroth hives.
I use round holes on all my Langstroth hives - which are being phased out of the bee yard gradually. I started with slotted entrances on the Layens hives, but have gone to a 1 1/4" round hole. Bees like either one, but I seem to prefer the round entrance for my purposes and can cut them more easily with the tools I have.
The extractor is the thing that hurts with the layens frames... everyone has an extractor for langstroth frames.... I build a long langstroth from Dr. Leo's website information. Layens makes a lot of sense to me and I really appreciate your perspective on this since you have been a beekeeper for a long time now and see the value in the horizontal hives... I'm worried I'm not wintering properly... this is our first year, we caught a swarm in May and they are doing great... in spite of me.... ;-)
I agree about the extractors and that's why I decided to invest in the one Dr Leo offers since it will accommodate both styles of frames. I hope you have a great 2021 bee season.
Consider just using the standard Lang frames inserted into the honey section of the long hive - turned 90 degrees. Bees will feel them just the same. Extraction issue solved.
I found another universal extractor that will accommodate all frames, it's lyson brand at better bee .com Electric powered comes out cheaper than dr. Leo's manual.
@@andreysednev8542 Talking some expensive toys for $700! www.betterbee.com/lyson-honey-processing-equipment/LYEXW224BVF-Lyson-large-frame-motorized-extractor.asp Anyhow, none of these are worth it to me (unless you have excess money to spend and don't really care how expensive your toys are).
how do you connect the bottom frame to the Langstroth to use in the layens.?are beetles and mites less of a problem in layens? I live in a region of Florida where wintering bees is irrelevant
Hi John, great questions. I've taken my unassembled Langstroth frames to the table saw and cut the top bars down to Layens width, then extended the side arms to match Layens. It was a bit tedious, but I had them in the shop and I use the "Better Beetle Blaster" hive beetle traps that sit in the 3/8' gap between the top bars so it works well in this configuration. As far as mites go, I purposely keep the colonies small like a wild colony and make a split or a shake to break the brood cycles which the varroa mites.
Can you give me a rough estimate of how much your two double deep frames weigh full of honey. I am planning on trying this for brood. Then adding regular honey suppers to extract. Any ideas? Anyone.
My double deep Langs did not produce much at all this year. Only a couple pounds of harvest from one and I had to leave most for the others. This was their first year building up, so I'm optimistic that next year will be better, but I'm not a huge fan of the double deep Langs and plan to phase them out in favor of the Layens.
Sounds like you do not use good anti-robbing practices with the Langs: - soft covers EVERYWHERE - you take a box off you COVER it immediately and keep it covered - you use masking scent (vinegar in a spray bottle works fine) - spray it everywhere; spray it onto the open boxes - every time you work the box - you cover it - in fact, consider soft covers as a permanent part of your Lang system. In fact, think how you can transfer the Layens' management methods into the Langs. I do it. All it is to it. Beauty of the long hives in the ergonomics and the accessibility. But as far as the robbing management goes - this is not about the Layens at all. This being said, the width of the Layen's frame at about 12-13 inch is more ergonomic for both the bees and the humans. Agreed.
Thanks for your promotion of the Layens hive. We need a few more experienced keepers touting them. I’ve built 11 nucs and 3 insulated longs so for. Have 3 more longs in the works for next season. The bees didn’t even notice our hot July. Glad I started out with the Layens. I built 1 Lazutin nuc to try. I need more bee inventory before I can try it though.
That's awesome - I love hearing how folks are getting into natural beekeeping methods. Best wishes
I have chronic pain and am going to build a Layens horizontal hive so it's easier on my back and legs. I saw a video where Dr. Leo said these were easier to access for people with disabilities. Thanks for the video!
I am a 1st yr. Bee Keeper. I built 2 Langstroth Long Hives (Deep Frames). I caught 2 local swarms in May and both are doing great. I really like the width of the Langstroth and the length of the Layens for the benefit of the bee's. So I made a third Langstroth with the width of the Layens. I make all my frames now and made modified Langstroth/Layens frames. I found this video a couple of weeks ago at ua-cam.com/video/F__cOtAcVZM/v-deo.html and I am now going to make double deep Langstroths so I can seperate them and use a deep frame extractor.
Anyone with a bad back or joint issues should stay away from the Langstroth hive. I've kept bees in Langstroth for 25 years. My age is starting to catch up to me now and it's tough lifting a hundred pound deep when it's full of honey.
I'm looking at the Layen's basically for the ease of honey extraction and lifting. I don't sell honey anymore and only use if for home things. I'll crush it or find and extractor (they exist) that will take care of it for me.
Last year I just brought a bucket out to the yards and scraped the honey and wax off the plastic foundation of the Langstroth frames and put everything back in the hives. I did this prior to the dearth and it worked just fine. Later in the summer my boxes were re-drawn with Japanese knotweed which I left for the bees to overwinter.
I'm excited about the Layen's. I think it will work just fine.
I'll build two or three and start from there. I like your frames better than the real Layen's frames because I have a Pile of medium frames that haven't been built yet.
I am finishing up on my horizontal hive build getting ready for spring
Great vid. I am using top bar hives now. The Layens system is so much more attractive to me because of the frame. No more fractured comb messes!
Building long langstroph hives because I am going away from the 10 frame boxes. This way I can still occasionally buy a nuc from locals. Otherwise all the hives I am building are insulated layens. The colonies in the layens hives didn't even seem to notice it was hot outside...and we get hot out here! Even the long lang hive never bearded! Maybe one day I can offer other Texans Layens nucs instead of the typical lang nucs! :)
I am also in Texas, south Brewster county. Thinking of building 10 frame double deep frames. I run 5 and 10 frames. Getting hard for me these day to lift the boxes. Would like to chat my ideas and hear yours.
@@bigsmile542 I am an hour west of Houston which is almost a whole different country from your part of Texas! :) I really like the Layens frames and built quite a few of them. Not sure what you mean by 10 frame double deep frames... Dr Leo has a plan for a a double deep long langstroph hive but it looks like getting to those lower frames would be a real pain.
Thanks for the good review of the layens frames. I just started bee keeping in 2021here in the middle of PA. Got a swarm trap from Dr Leo Sharashkins website and used his plans to build a 12 framer. Ended up catching 2 swarms. One, the week after Mothers day and the other July 4th! They did better than I wouldve thought. Ended up getting 19lbs from the first swarm and left the later one with all they had just to make sure they had plenty for the long cold winters here. Cant thank you enough for all your videos! Super informative and you seem like a great guy! Keep on making your vids cause there are lots of us beginners out here eager to learn! Bryan C.
That's awesome! Now you're hooked for sure - beekeeping gets in your blood. Enjoy!
Hi Bryan! Newbie here too. You mention long cold winters. Where are you? How did your bees overwinter? We are central Ontario and I’m hoping insulated layens will protect my colonies
Charlie, I'm about 25 miles west of State College, PA. On the Alaghenny Plateau. January was frigid here. The bees from both gives came out 1 day at the end of Feb. But then it got cold again and the July 4th swarm died with honey still in the frames. So on warm days I set those frames outside my other hive and they happily cleaned them up!
I’m a newbie keeper but I was sold on Lyons hives first time I saw them on UA-cam I agree with you 100%
I got a lot of Langstroth deep and medium hives. A Layens frame is 16 inches deep. A lang deep and medium put together is 15.5 inches deep. You can take a deep frame drawn out attach medium to it =15.5, take a medium drawn out attach a deep =15.5 both are only 1/2 inch shorter than a Layens so the hive will need to be wider and same height as Layens hive. Will have to try a few see what best way to change them over.
I've got 2 hives where I did just that - attach an extension onto a standard Langstroth from making them deeper. It seems in my observations that the bees are doing just fine in these hives, however the frames are more clumsy for me to handle vs the Layens frames. The nice thing about bees is they seem to adapt well and are probably not as picky as we are about what kind of house they live in.
Thanks for sharing. Happy thanksgiving.
🐝safe and keep your smoker lit!!
Konrad
Where are you getting those Layens frames? Do you put melted wax across the top bar to get the bees to want to start building comb?
Very informative,, thanks for sharing
Thanks for the info
I'm stuck using the double deep model due to finances. I would have to buy a new spinner since the existing spinner I have access to is langstroth. Not really looking forward to the heavy frames. But it will beat a heavy box. Mine is a 15 frame hive that I just finished.
I enjoy your presentation style and content. I agree that new hobby beekeepers should start with Layens. Like you I am experienced beekeeper running all medium langs. I build all my boxes from dimensional lumber similar to the Layens for the thermal stability.
In this video you compare double deep frames to Layens frames. yes, the DDs are huge, way too big to handle. Not a good comparison.
Since all my brood boxes are double mediums and I over winter in double mediums, I will experiment with double medium frames.
Double mediums frame comb area is about 18"x13", only slightly larger in area than Layens at 13"x16". Roughly a Layens frame on its side. For most of the year my boxes are a double medium and only during a flow when I want to collect honey will I add a queen excluder and a super. Thus the double medium frame will give me similar one level access during the part of the year I need to access the brood chamber and remove the frame gap in the brood chamber.
I believe that double medium frames will give me similar advantages of the Layens but retain all of my existing equipment.
What is your opinion on this idea?
Hi i am on the NC/ VA border Have about 60 hives double 8frame langs and 8frame triple medium langs stacked hives. I have built 2 horizonal 14 frame lang long deep will put a deep and medium frame together they 19 w 15.5 h as a test in 2022. Also a few single deep longs and 10--14&20 frame layens conversions. Looking forward to spring of 22.
I think the mediums are a smart way to keep bees as well. I've only ran mediums for almost 10 years prior to using the Layens hives and have also done quite well with them. Are you running 8 frame or 10 frame hives? I always run 5s and 8s with my Langstroth hives.
Thanks for this. Such a great matter of fact side by side comparison. Is the entrance to the Layens hive the same or different to the Langstroth Hive?
I use round holes on all my Langstroth hives - which are being phased out of the bee yard gradually. I started with slotted entrances on the Layens hives, but have gone to a 1 1/4" round hole. Bees like either one, but I seem to prefer the round entrance for my purposes and can cut them more easily with the tools I have.
how do you extract the honey from the LAYENs frames?? thank you for the tips
I got the extractor Dr Leo promotes that extracts both Layens and Langstroth frames. It works really great.
The extractor is the thing that hurts with the layens frames... everyone has an extractor for langstroth frames.... I build a long langstroth from Dr. Leo's website information. Layens makes a lot of sense to me and I really appreciate your perspective on this since you have been a beekeeper for a long time now and see the value in the horizontal hives... I'm worried I'm not wintering properly... this is our first year, we caught a swarm in May and they are doing great... in spite of me.... ;-)
I agree about the extractors and that's why I decided to invest in the one Dr Leo offers since it will accommodate both styles of frames. I hope you have a great 2021 bee season.
Consider just using the standard Lang frames inserted into the honey section of the long hive - turned 90 degrees. Bees will feel them just the same. Extraction issue solved.
I found another universal extractor that will accommodate all frames, it's lyson brand at better bee .com Electric powered comes out cheaper than dr. Leo's manual.
@@andreysednev8542
Talking some expensive toys for $700!
www.betterbee.com/lyson-honey-processing-equipment/LYEXW224BVF-Lyson-large-frame-motorized-extractor.asp
Anyhow, none of these are worth it to me (unless you have excess money to spend and don't really care how expensive your toys are).
Amazon has universal extractor that will fit both Lang and Layens frames for not much more than $100.
But dont you need a special extractor for the layens?
Yes, Dr Leo sells an excellent extractor that accepts both Langstroth and Layens frames. I just got one this year and I highly recommend it.
Are your bees wild bees?
how do you connect the bottom frame to the Langstroth to use in the layens.?are beetles and mites less of a problem in layens? I live in a region of Florida where wintering bees is irrelevant
Hi John, great questions. I've taken my unassembled Langstroth frames to the table saw and cut the top bars down to Layens width, then extended the side arms to match Layens. It was a bit tedious, but I had them in the shop and I use the "Better Beetle Blaster" hive beetle traps that sit in the 3/8' gap between the top bars so it works well in this configuration. As far as mites go, I purposely keep the colonies small like a wild colony and make a split or a shake to break the brood cycles which the varroa mites.
@@enjoybeekeeping5612 thank you for the ideas
Great video! Layens Is best!
Agreed!
Do you know where I might get Layens nucs in Georgia?
Keep my contact info and visit me online at enjoybeekeeping.com. I plan on making these available next year.
Actually in this video You compare Layens with Lazutin frames.
Me and my modifications - soon as you extend that Langstroth frame it becomes Lazutin. Thanks for pointing that out. Bee safe!
Can you give me a rough estimate of how much your two double deep frames weigh full of honey. I am planning on trying this for brood. Then adding regular honey suppers to extract. Any ideas? Anyone.
My double deep Langs did not produce much at all this year. Only a couple pounds of harvest from one and I had to leave most for the others. This was their first year building up, so I'm optimistic that next year will be better, but I'm not a huge fan of the double deep Langs and plan to phase them out in favor of the Layens.
Sounds like you do not use good anti-robbing practices with the Langs:
- soft covers EVERYWHERE - you take a box off you COVER it immediately and keep it covered
- you use masking scent (vinegar in a spray bottle works fine) - spray it everywhere; spray it onto the open boxes
- every time you work the box - you cover it
- in fact, consider soft covers as a permanent part of your Lang system.
In fact, think how you can transfer the Layens' management methods into the Langs.
I do it.
All it is to it.
Beauty of the long hives in the ergonomics and the accessibility.
But as far as the robbing management goes - this is not about the Layens at all.
This being said, the width of the Layen's frame at about 12-13 inch is more ergonomic for both the bees and the humans. Agreed.
Langstroth invented the removable frame so yours is still just langstroth