[timothyvanwing]

I am a new beekeeper, and my two beehives will arrive tomorrow. Just wondering what type of foundation I should put down. Should I put down a pallet, landscaping blocks, cinder blocks, or any other foundations that any of you use.
Note; I did not purchase a hive stand for my hives.

 

[mrspock]

I am a new beekeeper, and my two beehives will arrive tomorrow. Just wondering what type of foundation I should put down. Should I put down a pallet, landscaping blocks, cinder blocks, or any other foundations that any of you use.
Note; I did not purchase a hive stand for my hives.

I think it would be very difficult to affix cinderblock to the frames, and I'm not sure that bees would draw comb on it.

 

[11x]

pay no attention to the last post. it shure seems like some sort of a game with some poeple to see how much fun you can have with a newbie befor you run them off........ i use cinder blocks for now. thay work fine. i am in the process of putting poles in the ground and running boards between them to set my hives on. the only problem i see with pallets is that thay may have chemicals in them and thay wont last as long as some other materiels. is the ground level where you want to put them? if not use a shovel and a level to get your "foundation" for the hive to set on good an level. keep you head up and dont pay attention to the things that some people say. please check your pm.

 

[StevenG]

I get used railroad ties, cut them 2" wider than the hive, use them...

 

[honeydreams]

Use what will work for you. having a hive stand is not needed. just put the hives about 4-6 iinches above ground.

 

[BeeCurious]

I think it would be very difficult to affix cinderblock to the frames, and I'm not sure that bees would draw comb on it.

mrspock,

People usually have three or more weeks of beekeeping experience before they toy with new members.

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240886

 

[Skinner Apiaries]

The entire mr spock thing is kinda funny...

On a serious note, amything that gets the hive off the ground works. I even have some sitting on logs.

 

[arthur]

around here in Texas, I would prefer a hivestand with legs that can be done in a way to prevent ant entry into the hives.

Fire ants, pharoah ants, carpenter ants.

 

[MrJeff]

I have been using cinderblocks, mainly because there is a giant pile of them in the old pasture behind the house. Once everything is level and settles a bit it seems to be a rock solid base, I've been pretty happy with them. Especially since they are simple and free. I like the idea of railroad ties, too. In my area CN leaves hundreds of them laying around in piles beside the rails. I think they give the old ones away for free if you ask.

 

[11x]

beware of replying to the origional poster. i sent him a pm sugesting another websight forum he might try that is great for beeginers and he sent me a pm thretening to report me for spam... lol that is funny... fire away mr. spock i appoligise

 

[timothyvanwing]

Thanks everyone for all of the help.

@11x-I read my pm before I looked to see who posted under my thread. I thought it was a mass message sent out to a lot of people. So I just told you not to send it to me again. My mistake.

 

[Michael Bush]

Proper terminology will get you better answers. In beekeeping, "foundation" is the sheets of wax (or plastic) that the bees build comb on. "Stand" is the thing that the bottom boards are put on top of to set up a hive.