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Why were you using an excluder?
I only use them when raising more queens...
ANy other time I have used excluders they end up being great drone traps that provide me with a mass of dying and rotting...

After waiting over a year for an extractor from Betterbee, I finally canceled my order...

RBAR

Derek,
GOOD QUESTION! Well, I had the hives built, cleaned them up last year after the hornets.

But, that's not why...

Had extra queens to play with this year...good build up...why not?...

Latest TBH iss THRIVING!
Sure glad you guys talked me into trying again...
I am amazed how calm this hive is!

RBar

Go for it. THe extra brood will help prevent more decrease, but remember you are a week or two from new eggs...still, if she breed well, you may have saved the second hive.
Still, if you do...

Neat. Cheap.
I have never used an uncapping tank, just scrape over the extractor and go with the extractor's strainer below...but...
Clean-up this way would be much easier.
for those hobby folks...

There are two types of bee people...

People who try to raise them...and...people who try to keep them.

I used the be the former...

RBAR

Well, I DID try another TBH this year, on a lark.
The hornets from hell of last year notwithstanding...
I sawed out some solid triangle pieces to put in the ends of a strong lang to get some brood...

Michael,

The extra beespace...great idea.

>You can run it as just a long hive if you have time to check on it frequently. You can use the supers if you don't want to check on it frequently."
...

I am moving entirely to the PF120s.
Most of my bees build on them quickly, the rest do with a little coaxing by cycling from other hives.
I wissh they were a bit stronger along the top bar, but, I...

Michael,
It occurs to me that this cross between TBH and standard medium frames may be ideal for a friend who is on a budget.
I assume the medium long is intended to be filled with brood with...

Michael,
I will have to try one of these soon.
3/4" frame rabbets instead of 5/8"?
Oh, you use migratory covers...this gives a bit more bee space on top...is this your reason?

Roy

Interesting discussion.
Most states do not "require" standard hardware for beekeeping, but do require an arrangement with "removeable frames"...tradtionally, the skep is not.
I suppose if one were...

Oh, take your staple gun with you...a well palced staple or two is enough to hold them together at the top once you have the comb in...!

Roy

These are super simple to make, very sturdy, though, to use hinges makes them a little pricey.
(Cheap hinge source, anyone?!)
Instead, I cut little aluminum flashing squares and stapled them...

Michael,
OR...one could saw a thicker bottom at the appropriate angle and glue/tack it on the ends...might be a bit sturdier when stringing the wire...
I would saw grooves in the top bar (same...

I love my NICOT system! Cheap, and really works!
Just remember to put it in 24 hours early and let the bees clean it and get used to it first.
I will not say fool proof, but it does work well...

Buy a NICOT system...it makes it TOO easy...

Roy

True, but, generally you don't have to worry about half of your herd of cattle flying off every early spring!
;-)
Roy

Hey,
As mentioned in earlier posts, I may afterall try a TBH again this year now that I think I understand their culture better...
Question: (Michael B.?) rather than waiting on a swarm that may...

Good information.
The one TBH I had success with (up to a point...) was sloped sides, and probably eventually failed because of me, not them...trued to divide too soon. (TBHs DO involve a different...

If I remember correctly, I think I actually had 9 plastic frames in a 14" last year...but too cold outside to go check that at the moment...

RBAR

Just kidding.
I have never crosswired, only used the embedded vertical wires that wired foundation comes with, but then, I never used an exractor until last year, and though I was very gentle on...

Interesting discussion...obviously we all bring a lot of presuppositions with us...
For some reason, not sure, two full hive bodies seem to be a bit too much room usually...an additional super for...

Interesting. I think you are right...I missed somethig for sure.
I thought the speculation was that the fake egg was to "fool" or prevent the queen from expanding up, increasing her brood area......