From: "joel acheson" <joeljed@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 23:18:47 -0000
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: hive building

Hi to all

In building a beehive, will plywood work well over time? I know that
properly painted plywood survives well in damp climates, but I'm concerned
whether the unpainted inside will absorb water and begin to delaminate. If
so, is there a suitable protectant coating which could be applied to the
inside that the bees will not object to?

Or is it better to just bite the bullet, and do some tongue and grooving to
join a couple of l-by pieces together to the proper width?

Also a question on joining two hives. I installed two packages last monday
(4/30), and a quick inspection yesterday showed the queens had started to
lay. The packages had been late in arriving, courtesy of an inefficient
postal service, and were a bit on the weak side. I would like to
double-hive them as soon as practical to help them build to strength faster,
but how soon is appropriate? When they both show capped brood? Wait until each has started hatching brood? What is best?

Thanx, Joel