If your goal is to start breeding bees, you need hives. Frame hives are best suited for this. In such hives, beekeepers can safely examine the bees, pump out honey without destroying the bees. You can buy a frame hive at a suitable store, but making and assembling the hive with your own hands will be much more economical.
Instructions
Step 1
To begin with, mark everything exactly - the parts of all beehives should be interchangeable so that you can replace the broken part of the hive at any time, transplant a bee colony with the honey frames, or build up the hive. The best materials for making beehives are tree species such as pine, linden, spruce, poplar, and others. For your hive to be durable, carefully select the material - the boards must be smooth, dry, without a single crack, wormhole or knot.
Step 2
A standard hive consists of:
- the case in which the frames are placed (it may or may not have an integral bottom - in the second case, the bottom is made separately);
- removable roof;
- the framework itself;
- extensions with additional frames.
Step 3
The housing should be designed so that no cracks are observed in its walls. The best option would be to make a beehive from a tongue-and-groove board. You can ensure ventilation of the hive by making the lower and upper entrances. The extensions must fit the body of the hive clearly in size. The roof must be covered from above with roofing material or sheet metal.
Step 4
The main part of any bee hive is frames. They should be square and sized so that the bottom of each frame does not reach about 9 mm to the bottom of the hive. The distance between the frames should be strictly from 7 to 10 mm. If these sizes are different, the bees will begin to lay them with propolis, but they need to spend their energy on the production of honey.
Step 5
The hive should last at least 10 years. To do this, it is necessary to carefully treat it with linseed oil and paint it every two to three years. Hives that are not used for one reason or another should be stored in a cool dry place.
Step 6
Many beekeepers try vinyl hives. However, this is not the best choice, as the bees gnaw on the vinyl, causing the hive to break down quickly. Be that as it may, the ideal option for any hive is a tree.
