First time observation Hive

[MRJPRICH]

I want to take a moment to thank Micharl for all the help and time and information on building an observation hive. I was out of town on business for a couple of days which is why this thank you is a little late. The information that you gave will be MOST helpful when I am building my hive. I was originally looking at plans at http://members.aol.com/beetools/obhive.htm but the ones that you so tirelessly explained, and in laymens terms, were very good... I like conponents of both designs and will use your information as a guide while building. I think that I like the concept of the feeder(with the jar) for the ease of it, although not having used either one, it will be hard to choose which one to use. I am looking forward to building and enjoying the hive and Thanks again Michael and the others who responded. It is a true joy to be associated with people like you on this forum.
If I might include one more question with this (Long Form) thank You note, My daughter bought a complete hive at an auction this weekend, she's only 13, and brought it home for dad, proud as can be. Well the hive looks kind of old, paint peeling etc., and looks like a mouse has used it for a home for some time, but other that that it looks like it is in useable shape... Now the question, should I feel safe to use it from an unknown origin or not. Is there any way to tell if it might have had AFB or anything else that I might want to stay away from, or would just a good scraping and a couple of coats of paint do it. As I mentioned before,I have two hives now, one pretty strong and the real strong with about 200# of honey on it now and still going strong. I don't want to jeopardize my hives with the $10 hive my daughter got for me. Thank you again for all your help and next time I'll try not to write a book!

[Michael Bush]

>Well the hive looks kind of old, paint peeling etc., and looks like a mouse has used it for a home for some time

Sounds normal. Usually they smell bad from the mouse and I leave them out in the rain until they smell better.

>but other that that it looks like it is in useable shape... Now the question, should I feel safe to use it from an unknown origin or not.

It's one of those things a lot of people won't do. I've used lots of used equipment, I don't use Terrmycin and I've never had AFB. Maybe I'm just lucky.

>Is there any way to tell if it might have had AFB or anything else that I might want to stay away from

AFB would be the big one and, no, there is really no way to tell. Some states have an "autoclave" that you can put the boxes and frames (but not the wax) in. Some people scorch the boxes and burn the frames. I just use them.

>or would just a good scraping and a couple of coats of paint do it.

A good scraping and a couple of coats of paint will not do anything to stop AFB spores.

>As I mentioned before,I have two hives now, one pretty strong and the real strong with about 200# of honey on it now and still going strong. I don't want to jeopardize my hives with the $10 hive my daughter got for me.

Do you have frames or just boxes? If you're concerned I'd scorch the inside of the boxes and call that good. Frames, I would probably just use them, but if you're the nervous type, just burn them.

I have bought used equipment several times with no problems. But, again, maybe I've just been lucky.

[topbee]

MB,

I built the Observation Hive from the plans from this site. I recently caught a swarm put in the hive the drew out the comb and left. I found them on a nearby pine tree, put them back in the hive and the left again, but I didn't find them back. The amazing thing was is that they had taken two qts of sugar water. I thought I was home free. To start an observation hive, I quess I will put a frame of brood and bee in and see how that goes.

Tony

[Michael Bush]

I had an observation hive abscond. It was PermaComb in a 1 1/2" wide (inside the glass) hive. It was too crowded. You could she them squeezing through. I put comb with bees in it. They waited for the brood to emerge and then left. I put some screen molding on to move the door out 1/4" and now I have a booming observation hive with the same PermaComb.

Where was your hive? In the house?

[topbee]

MB,
I had it on the north side of my shed where it was shaded. It was about a 5# swarm, but my hive is a 2 deep and 1 illinois tall. I thought it would have plenty of room. I did notice that the frames where too wide that the bees could not move around the outside of the frames. They could only move up or down. I don't know, maybe it was to tight for them. I am think a making a new one but adding a 1/4" on both sides so the frames are more than an 1/8" from the glass.
What do you think?

Tony

[Michael Bush]

There should be 1 3/4" between the glass minimum and 1 7/8" maximum. There should be 3/8" on each side between the comb and the glass. Sounds like it was too close. Mine absconded and that certainly seemed to be the reason.

I have reworked every observation hive I've had one way or the other for different sized frames, different spacing etc.

[MRJPRICH]

<Do you have frames or just boxes? If you're concerned I'd scorch the inside of the boxes and call that good. Frames, I would probably just use them, but if you're the nervous type, just burn them.>

I have all the frames too. 1 brood box and 5 med supers worth, grooved top and bottom. All the boxes have metal slides for frame ends and metal guards on frame tops. The frames seem to clean up real well so far. I think that I'll give them a try.
Now assuming that I get them ready soon, can I still put 1 or 2 frames of brood and a couple of honey in this late in the season and expect them to make a new queen and be ready to over-winter, or am I dreaming. And should I locate them near my other two hives or some distance away (200' or so) just to be safe...
Thanks again for all your advice!
J.P.