Observation Hive Gate ?

[BGhoney]

Hi all, I'm just putting the glass in a 12 frame, 2 queen observation hive. I'm trying to decide what type of gate or door to use to close the entrance off when I need to move it.

In my smaller observation hives I use a 1 and a quarter ball valve. This works great but isnt very attractive. I will take the big hive to the fair and was hoping to find something all little better looking but still secure. I would put a screw into the gate so it couldn't be opened easily.

It will need 2 entrances because of the 2 queens.. Anybody got any options :rolleyes:

[justgojumpit]

Why not just put in miniature sliding doors?

justgojumpit

[BGhoney]

That might work, I was thinking wood would be to thick, but a 1/16 inch little steal plate would work, if I could secure it. It would look better than a big red knob..:p

[standman]

For my OH, my son made a slide in screen door. It actually fits into the wood frame where my tube to the outside attaches. Works great.

[Michael Bush]

I tried several things and I ended up using three pieces of cloth and three hair ties. Put one on the hive one on the tube you diconnected it from and one on the outside so the returning fielders don't pile up at the one inside. Then remove them as you need to to hook it up and don't forget the one outside. I have one hive that has a slide in block (from Brushy Mt.) and it's nice, but I still end up doing the cloth for the other bees that are in the tube etc.

[fuzzybeekeeper]

BGhoney,

Why a 12-frame, 2 queen OH?

Wouldn't two 6-framers be easier to handle?

Can you post a photo?

Fuzzybeekeeper

[Ross]

I do it pretty simple. I stuff a paper towel in each hole.

[BerkeyDavid]

I was planning on just using a cork.
Yes please post pictures!

[magnet-man]

I am like Ross. A paper towel works great and is cheap.:applause:

[BEES4U]

You might want to look at some cap plugs at a local hardware store
Ernie

[AstroBee]

My OH uses a PVC coupling. The type I use has male threads on one end and a slip fitting on the other end. The male threads screw into the OH and is semi-permanent. I have a flex tube that plugs into the slip fitting side of the coupling. When I take the OH to shows, I use a PVC pipe cap that slides snugly into slip fitting side of the coupling. For extra security, I've drilled a hole through the slip fitting/PVC cap so that I can put in a threaded bolt. Probably sounds more complicated than it really is, but it is actually very simple and secure.

[BGhoney]

Paper towels wouldn't fly well at the fair. Kinda trying to stay away from pvc it kinda takes away from the nicely stained wood. Probably can't use screen little fingers can get stung through it.

It was going to be a 12 frame 1 queen hive, it's 6 frames tall and 2 across, then when talking to others decided the queen pheromone wouldn't cover all the bees. So I filled in the holes in the dividing support and call it a 2 queen.

I took a pic of it last night, I'll try and post it. I don't have the entrance figured out for the top yet..:D




http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv197/Bghoney/?action=view&current=obhive.jpg

http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv197/Bghoney/?action=view&current=0bhive2.jpg

[drobbins]

most folks here post pics at a free site called photobucket.com
if you don't feel like doing that I'll be glad to post them for you
email them to drobbins at gmail dot com

Dave