Scale for weighing hives

[chevydmax04]

I would like to track the growth of my hives by monitoring the weight of one of them. Anyone else do this? and if so can you recommend where I can get a scale that can stay out in the weather.

[alpha6]

Here is a good place to start.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...atchallpartial

[indypartridge]

Do you know any local beekeepers who get Bee Culture? The April 2009 issue has an article (page 53) on making a hive scale out of an ordinary bathroom scale.

[Michael Palmer]

Well, there's a couple ways I've done it.

My old method was a bit much. Took two people, and the hives had to be lifted off the ground.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringscale1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ringscale2.jpg

I've seen tripods to do the same thing. Always clumsy and expensive. After blowing out my shoulders weighing hives like this over the years, I needed a different way. Always thought along the "Lift 'em up" line. Had a "Eureka moment" one night while in bed falling asleep.

Why not jut tip them?

I bought a package scale at Grainger for about $75.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...kagescale1.jpg

Used a piece of plywood to fit the scale to my hive stand.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...kagescale2.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...hinghives1.jpg

My stands are 2x4 construction. Outer cover goes on ground at the end of stand. Scale goes on plywood which goes on cover.

Tip hive sideways, and slide plywood and scale under hive.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...hinghives2.jpg

Tip hive onto scale and read weight.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...hinghives3.jpg

You'll need to come up with a target weight. You're in Maine. Same weight as in Vermont. Colony should weigh 150-160 lbs. Add one gallon of 2:1 for each 10 pounds the colony is below the target weight.

Hope this helps.

[Ross]

Old cotton scales work.

[chevydmax04]

Mike your links to photobucket are not working, can you repost those I would like to see that.

Thanks

[NasalSponge]

This is the kind I want and indeed had an opportunity to purchase but I him-hawed around too long and lost out.

http://www.beesource.com/forums/show...ght=hive+scale