[Budvar]

Only variation was using mediums instead of shallows. Checkerboarding is amazing. Hope I'm not violating the board rules regarding pictures.

Link instead of picture so not to violate picture size issue: Checkerboarding picture

3 hives to the left are checkerboarded. The others are swarms from this year.

 

[kbfarms]

Can you point me to plans to build the ventilation boxes on top? Bet that helped at bit.... Those hives are amazing.....

 

[Roland]

Where are the bees? I see none "hangin' out".

Roland

 

[USCBeeMan]

I saw a few on the outside of a couple of boxes on the right side of the pic.

 

[Budvar]

It was a morning picture. summer's been cool, thus far. Lots of activity, and bees, just not in that particular picture.

 

[Specialkayme]

Looks great. Keep up the good work.

 

[Peter]

Can you point me to plans to build the ventilation boxes on top? Bet that helped at bit.... Those hives are amazing.....

http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/plans/all_season_inner.pdf

Note that the exterior width of the box on the plans is 16 1/2". A regular top cover will probably not fit over that, as I discovered the hard way!! I would suggest modifying the width to a regular Langstroth width of 16 1/4"

 

[Roland]

The reason I say "where's the bees" is that ,although I respect Walt's methods for swarm control, I believe there are ways to control swarms AND increase population number. Of course, these methods are more labor intensive. Ar what temperature was the picture taken?

I do want to know if I am doing something wrong.

Roland

 

[Specialkayme]

The reason I say "where's the bees" is that ,although I respect Walt's methods for swarm control, I believe there are ways to control swarms AND increase population number. Of course, these methods are more labor intensive. Ar what temperature was the picture taken?

I do want to know if I am doing something wrong.

Roland

Which methods are you talking about Roland?

 

[Roland]

Specialkayme - We run a single deep brood chamber , and manipulate frames to keep the brood chamber fairly clear so that the queen can lay at will. We seem to be able to develop good populations and get around the swarm problems. Right now MOST of our hives, but not all, are one deep with 3 deep supers. There will be bees hangin' out on the front porch, and in all of the opening where the supers are set back one bee space. I say this not to insult anyone, but rather to find out by comparison if there is a better way for us to do things.

Roland

 

[brac]

so you are taking brood away? Please explain how your frame manipulation works.

 

[Budvar]

The upper vent came from a design via the net that Peter showed. First time I made one...yep, inner cover nearly covered the holes. Think I used 1x6's the next time.

No swarm problems with my CB'd hives, LOTS of bees. Again, thanks, Walt. It's only the three hives I tried it on, but now that have enough supers with comb, will try it on all my hives next year.

 

[Roland]

Brac, no removing, just moving within the hive. PM me so we are not off topic.

Roland