If you didn't make the follower boards before making the hives, you can do what I did. Measure how wide the top is. Measure how wide the bottom is. Measure how deep the hive is from the floor to the bars.
I used styrofoam insulation as a template to be sure it fit before cutting wood, but cardboard would work well, too. Of course I see no reason that my styrofoam one can't be used as well and I plan to cut a space on the bottom to use with a boardman feeder.
Then you draw a center line to use as your starting point. Draw a top line that is the depth of the hive above the bottom. Measure half the width to each side of the center line at both the top and bottom. Use a straight edge to draw the outside edges. Works like a charm.
In theory you could calculate the width of the top and bottom by subtracting the width of the boards, but once it's built, it's easier to just measure.
I used styrofoam insulation as a template to be sure it fit before cutting wood, but cardboard would work well, too. Of course I see no reason that my styrofoam one can't be used as well and I plan to cut a space on the bottom to use with a boardman feeder.
Then you draw a center line to use as your starting point. Draw a top line that is the depth of the hive above the bottom. Measure half the width to each side of the center line at both the top and bottom. Use a straight edge to draw the outside edges. Works like a charm.
In theory you could calculate the width of the top and bottom by subtracting the width of the boards, but once it's built, it's easier to just measure.
