Multi-hull hive: maintenance rules and beekeeping methods

Using multi-hull hives for breeding bees has many advantages. This option allows you to save space in the apiary and provides large bribes. In addition, the structure makes it easier for families to care for. Multi-hull houses include hulls that are considered interchangeable. This is an important advantage of the technology. If necessary, sections can be easily swapped.

Design Features

One of the popular methods of beekeeping is the cultivation of insects in multi-hull hives. Such structures have many advantages. In appearance, they resemble columns. The structure for keeping bees includes the following elements:

1. The case is made of boards that look like a rectangular box. The dimensions are affected by the specific model and the number of frames. The body is complemented by an entrance with a valve.
2. The bottom of the structure can be stationary or removable. The shield is made from boards 35 millimeters thick.
3. The roof is made flat and given a slight slope. The shield is constructed from boards, and the top is finished with galvanized steel or aluminum.
4. The covers are placed between the roof and the top of the hull. Sometimes an element is used to delimit sections.
5. The ceiling is assembled from thin boards. For fixing, 2 stripes are used. The part is a horizontal diaphragm located between the compartments.
6. As a ventilation grill, a frame is installed on which the mesh is stretched. This is done on the hull or roof.

Good and bad sides

The use of multi-hull structures has a number of advantages. These include the following:

• simplicity of removal of dead wood from the hive - this can be done by releasing the removable bottom;
• reducing the time spent on apiary maintenance - the main work is carried out by replacing the entire section, not the frame;
• simplicity of preparing food for the winter - it is enough to clean the section with cells filled with honey from insects and store until spring in a special place;
• easy to collect honey - insects stack the product in the upper cases, which eliminates the need to dismantle the nest.

Besides this, vertical structures are more adapted to the biological regime of bees, since in nature they live in hollows. In them, the nests are located in a vertical position.

However, such facilities for keeping bees have some disadvantages. Key cons include:

• difficulties in transportation and movement - there is a risk of damage to the hulls if there is no reliable fastening;
• expediency of application only in those farms where you can grow a strong family;
• need for a good forage base;
• impressive weight of sections.

Self-made

For self-production of a multi-hull hive, drawings will be required. First you need to determine how many frames should be included in the design. The most common options include hives for 10, 12 and 14 frames.

Beginners are allowed to take models for any number of frames. According to the standard drawing, you can make a hive for a different number of frames. The general scheme is the same. The differences concern only the dimensions.

For the construction of the structure will require dry boards, the thickness of which is 35 millimeters. The best option would be coniferous wood. It is also acceptable to use willow or linden. To fix the boards with a thorn-groove lock, you need to use PVA glue. It is this material that provides good sealing of the seams. It is recommended to tighten the walls with self-tapping screws or fasten them with nails.

From the tools you will need the following:

• milling cutter;
• set of chisels;
• saw;
• hammer;
• planer;
• grinder or sandpaper.

To collect such a hive you need to start from the body.The board must be dissolved into blanks, observing the dimensions indicated in the drawing. Since the wood will be sanded, you need to leave an allowance of 3 millimeters. For trimming, this figure needs to be increased to 10 millimeters.

On the sides it is required to cut fragments of the lock connection. There should be a spike at one end, and a groove at the other. When cutting, it is imperative to comply with the requirements of straightness. If this rule is violated, the wall will turn out to be skewed.

Blanks must be carefully sanded. For assembly, it is required to carefully coat the connection with glue. When constructing shields, you need to use different widths of boards. In this case, the walls of the case must be folded in such a way that the seams do not match. Due to the spacing of the joints, it is possible to make the structure more durable. At the corners of the housing wall, you need to tighten it with self-tapping screws.

It is recommended to make folds from the inside of the hive. They need to be placed in the upper fragments of the front and rear walls. In this case, the width should be 11 millimeters, and the depth should be 17.

The frame should stand with its hangers in the folds so that there is a height difference between the top bar and the edge of the body. Its size should be 7 millimeters. The gap is required in order to put the next case on top. Outside you need to fix the handles for transportation. They should be in the center of the side walls.

For the roof, it is required to build a shield from boards 25 millimeters thick. The upper part must be sheathed with sheet metal. The roof requires 4 ventilation holes to be drilled. The structure should fit snugly against the body, but have a little play to facilitate removal and installation.

The bottom is recommended to be made removable to facilitate the cleaning of the hive. The structure must be assembled from boards and the strapping must be fixed.The rear and side rails are made integral. On the front element it is necessary to cut a notch. Immediately equip the protrusion, the width of which is 50 millimeters. It is used as an arrival board.

Terms of Use

The use of the structure has certain features. They must be taken into account.

Swap sections

When keeping bees in such houses, it is necessary to periodically rearrange the cases. This strengthens the colony and prevents it from swarming.

Hive Expansion

In order to increase the number of bees, the queen needs to be forced to lay eggs intensively. In this case, it is required to move the compartment with the uterus to the very bottom of the house. Under the influence of instinct, the uterus will begin to move up and engage in brood.

Space saving

A multi-hull hive means placing fragments on top of each other. This helps save space in the apiary.

Wintering features

For a successful winter, it is important to properly prepare the bees. First of all, you need to take care of a sufficient amount of food. In addition to natural honey, it is worth using half-frames with perga.

The multi-body design of the bee hive has many advantages. It helps to save space in the apiary and ensures the full development of bee colonies. At the same time, it is important to properly build such a hive and follow the recommendations for its use.

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