Canvas for beehives: what to make, materials and how to make your own hands

Bee houses are closed small ecosystems, the ceiling of which is a mandatory element. Beginner beekeepers need to know how to make bee hives on their own. The beekeeper will not need to use a large amount of materials, but it is important to study the recommendations and nuances of making your own. Properly made blocks will help the bees create the right microclimate inside.

What are the hives for?

No house can do without a ceiling, the home of insects is no exception. Canvases serve as the top cover of the house, with which you can ensure the following tasks:

• creating and maintaining a certain temperature;
• protection from the influence of external factors (snow, rain, wind, debris and others);
• prevention of bee theft (other insects may encroach on the stock of the family);
• preparing the house and the bee colony for the winter period.

Attention! Beekeepers recommend having a few spare sheets in the boxes. The material wears out, the bees can gnaw through it. For the winter, you should add an oilcloth or other fairly durable fabric.

Variety of materials

Beekeepers often argue over the choice of fabric to cover bee hives. For holsters use:

• burlap;
• cotton type tarpaulin;
• polyethylene (often combined with burlap);
• painting canvases (sold in art stores);
• linen, cotton (old sheets or tablecloths, for example);
• polypropylene bags (from sugar or flour);
• materials from tents, soldiers' tents;
• waterproof films and fabrics.

Each of the options has advantages and disadvantages (that's why the disputes of beekeepers do not subside). The following video is suitable for beginner beekeepers.

Practical application

In methodological manuals and recommendations, they write about the manufacture of an element from burlap. The application of each type of material is different and has some peculiarities:

• burlap - in practice, more debris penetrates into the hives through such a fabric, insects climb through the threads, gnaw through them (bees can get stuck and die);

• cotton - use old sheets that absorb moisture, while being ventilated and retaining temperature (it is necessary to ensure that the fabric is not damp). Attention! The selected pieces need to be processed edges. You can use an overlock or fold by hand, then hem. Otherwise, insects may get tangled in the remaining threads;

• kumach or silk is a material that was used in the Soviet years, the advantages are “breathes”, but does not dampen, mold does not form, but such a fabric is difficult to purchase in stores;
• polyethylene or polypropylene - inexpensive, can be purchased or used from the packaging of purchased goods, the main drawback is that there is no familiar ventilation, so you need to bend the edges.

Flour or sugar bags are also suitable - the material is durable, thanks to weaving air passes through. One makes four canvases.

Handmade

To make a two-layer canvas, you need to do the following (according to the instructions from the beekeeper Sergey Rusin):

• window mesh (kapron, cells 2 mm by 2 mm) cut to the size of the hive;
• bottom layer is formed from mesh, top layer from fabric;
• fold two pieces, sew the edges (on a sewing machine or by hand, sometimes the parts are stapled together);
• dimensions are selected according to the bee house - the remains should not go outside, so as not to be affected by weather conditions.

The mesh does not let in insects, but becomes the basis for applying propolis. The bees fasten the threads with an adhesive composition, after which the two-layer cover becomes durable and waterproof. The process of creating a canvas is visually presented in the video.

Attention! Some breeds of bees (for example, Central Russian) feel better with a "deaf" cover. Such insects do not gnaw through the shelves, and the bees close the damage on their own with wax or propolis.

Alternative

If the hive does not have separators, it is recommended to use ceilings. These are small bars that close the space on top of the bee house. Features:

• size is selected for the hive to be covered;
• bars are installed in sunbeds;
• planks should be 5 to 10 cm wide, up to 1.5 cm thick;
• elements are folded tightly, in specially set folds, between some there is a gap of 0.6 cm for insects.

Instead of one plank, you can install an element of plexiglass - thus there will be a possibility of observation, but the beekeeper will not disturb the bees. Some beekeepers use ceilings instead of canvases, covering the planks with a pillow for the winter.

Linens provide coverage for the top of the hive. The ceiling is necessary to protect against debris, the influence of weather conditions. Self-made from one or two types of materials.

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