The Honey Factory

[R2elk]

It gives a better air flow by increasing venting where the inner cover has that little notch that does nothing more than give them another entrance. Two 1/4" blocks on the back corner increased the flow area by roughly 56" tapering front to back. Granted it tapers from 0 to a 1/4" but the fanning of the bees gets better flow. Other than water and air I don't do any thing else.

I leave the inner cover in place. I put a 3/4" block on top of the inner cover at the front then put the outer cover on top.

 

[Apis mellifera]

I put a piece of 1" ridged insulation on top of the hive.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

We have 10 days of 90+ degrees coming in, pulled the inner covers and shimmed the back of the outer cover for better drafting, creek about 50 yrds away. Between Cranberry pollen and cooling down the hive the crew is going to be busy.

In Hive #1 i have placed a shim between the outer cover and the added honey super and placed a large styrofoam board on top of the hive for additional shade during the hottest hours of the day. I also will pull out the bottom board during the day. And they will get an entrance feeder with water, no syrup.

Hive #2 is much weaker, i just got the nuc at the end of May, so they have an inner cover and an empty brood-box on top of their honey super. There is some wax comb as additional building material and a feeder with some 1:4 syrup.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I leave the inner cover in place. I put a 3/4" block on top of the inner cover at the front then put the outer cover on top.

Same church, different pew.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Something as simple as a styrofoam board works just great:

The smaller hive receives more shade from the trees and the brood-box on top of the hive is used as a feed-box, so they won't get too hot.

 

[R2elk]

Yellow sweet clover

 

[Egghead_Jr]

If a person wanted plastic for supers Acorn sells boxes of of 72 medium drone frames for $144 plus shipping. That's for the heavy wax.

https://www.acornbee.com/collections/drone-combs/products/acorn-drone-comb?variant=43431770947812

Those would draw out fast and hold a lot of honey. And they'd last forever as honey super frames.

What do you guys think about these frames, made completely out of plastic:
View attachment 3863632
Apart from they are quite expensive...
https://www.betterbee.com/frames/plastic-medium-frames-each.asp

 

[R2elk]

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Anyone have any recommendations for perennial herbs for honeybees? Something that can withstand snowy winters and the occasional hot summer day? I have catnip already.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Anyone have any recommendations for perennial herbs for honeybees? Something that can withstand snowy winters and the occasional hot summer day? I have catnip already.

Jerusalem artichokes!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_artichoke