Bee Natural

A functional $10 four frame observation hive.

What are they?

Observation hive.

Observation hives are small hives used to observe bee behavior. They consist of a box with glass sides. So, the bees are observed without disturbing them. Many hives are custom built for a specific location or need. Some observation hives are constructed as a fine piece of furniture. Some are elaborate and expensive.

I’ve been building them for over 30 years. And have built almost every kind and size. I use a deep frame as the basic building block for my hives. I’ve built them tall and thin, short and fat, and a few intermediate kinds as well.

Considerations

Shape

Their small size and limited bee population allows setting these hives up almost anywhere. But their small size is also a draw back. A prolific colony quickly outgrows the small hive volume.

And a tall, thin shape, which is ideal for observation, isn’t optimum for maintaining constant broodnest temperatures. Observation hives, with their glass sides, quickly overheat in direct sunlight or cool off in a draft.

Another view.

Indoors or Outdoors

An indoor observation hive is located inside with an access tube leading outside. It needs protection from the sun light. And it should be portable enough so that it can be moved outside for maintenance work.

An outdoor observation hive is easily worked but must be protected from the sun, the cold, and inclement weather. It is almost impossible, for a hive with a few frames, to survive outside, over the winter.

Serviceable

All observation hives need maintenance work. Taller hives require more elaborate support for the glass surfaces, which are easily broken without them. And they are tippy if not securely fastened down. Tall hives aren’t portable.

Hives more than one frame wide, aren’t as temperature sensitive as a thin hive. But not all comb surface areas are visible. And queens are somewhat photo phobic, so they spend much of their time on the interior comb surfaces. These hives have a lower center of gravity and are more stable. They are portable depending upon their weight.

My Observation Hive

Ob Hive Sketchup File

My observation hive spends much of it’s time out doors on my patio. It’s simple, portable, and self sustainable. I sometimes use it as a mating nuc or hold a spare queen in reserve. I come home after work. Sit on the patio, and watch the bees. It’s sort of like a beekeepers tv channel .

This hive is one frame high and four frames wide. It sustains itself during the summer. And it is easily transported for demonstrations or maintenance work.

It’s built from 3/4 inch thick lumber. A six foot piece of 1″ x 8″ provides the necessary lumber. The hive consists of:

• a bottom at 22″ x 7 1/4″
• two sides at 10 7/8″ x 5 3/4″
• a top at 18 3/8″ x 5 3/4″
• 2 side cleats at 5 3/4″ x 1 3/4″
• 2 bottom cleats at 7 1/4″ x 1 3/4″
• 8 mirror clips
• 2 pieces of glass or plexiglass at 19 3/4″ x 10 3/4″
• 4 deep frames
• a small piece of 1/8″ hardware cloth, about 5″x 5″
• wood screws

Construction

Mirror clip.

Cut out the bottom piece and the two side pieces. The sides have a 3/4″ dado cut starting 3/4 inches below their top edges. See the photos for details. Center one side on the bottom. Make it flush with the end of the bottom and perpendicular to the long axis of the bottom. Drill pilot holes and screw it securely to the bottom piece.

The second side is centered on the bottom board. There are 19 7/8 inches measured to the outside edges of the sides. Check the spacing with a frame. Make sure the sides align with each other and attach it, with screws, to the bottom.

Next, cut out the top piece. A hole, the size of a mason jar ring, is cut in the lid. I like a smaller jar for my hive. A piece of 1/8″ hardware cloth is stapled to the inside of the top. This hole is used for ventilation or is used to feed the bees using a jar type feeder.

Corner details.

Securely fasten the top between the sides.

Screw the cleats to the sides and the bottom. Place the top cleats flush with the upper surface of the top piece. Place the bottom cleats directly below the sides on the bottom’s lower surface. And cut a 1″ entrance hole on one end.

It’s a good time to apply a wood finish, if desired.

Place one glass sheet in place. When purchasing the glass, have the glass shop round off the edges and the corners.

Mount the mirror clips that hold the glass in place. Repeat the process for the other side. These clips, when loosened, allow the glass to slide vertically. If the clips are removed, the glass is removed horizontally.

That’s it. You have built a functional observation hive.

Management

Stock this hive with one frame consisting of a queen, bees, brood, honey and pollen. Don’t overstock the hive as excess bees cause problems later on. A prolific queen isn’t needed. An older queen ready for retirement will do.

The other frames consist of an empty drawn comb and a frame of foundation.

These frames are cleaned of excess propolis and beeswax, especially on the end bars. There’s no extra room in an observation hive. Tolerances are kept fairly tight to maintain a proper bee space which inhibits extra comb and propolis. This makes the hive much easier to work when it becomes necessary.

Eventually, the hive requires maintenance work. The bees cover all interior surfaces, including the glass, with a thin propolis coating. When cleaning the glass, take the time to remove extraneous comb or propolis from the hive itself. If additional space is needed, give the bees another frame of foundation. Replace a brood frame when excess bees become a problem.

Over Wintering

Most beekeepers don’t winter observation hives. They combine them with another, larger hive. I’ve over wintered mine by moving it inside to a cool, dark location in my garage. Then, I would set it outside for the few bee flight days during the winter. If this hive were indoors, it should survive without much additional attention.

Conclusion

Completed hive with frames, glass, and chair.

I’ve spent countless hours watching bees in observation hives. And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s a sensual experience that encompasses sights, sounds, smells and taste. It’s a great way for non-beekeeping family members to share in a beekeeper’s experience. And you’ll need a good chair with this hive. Enjoy!

Plans

Google Sketchup is a free 3D CAD program. It has a very intuitive interface and is quickly mastered. With it you can enlarge, rotate, manipulate, measure, section, and edit my Observation Hive Sketchup file in any fashion you choose. You can download it  here.

If you like the design, but want different dimensions. Just rescale it in Sketchup. You can stretch or squeeze it anyway you like

Different hive components are drafted on different layers which can be viewed, printed or not.

Enjoy!

Super Em Up

It is easy to add a ’super’ or two to this observation hive. Such a super could incorporate an excluder and simplify colony management. Excess honey or bees could easily be removed without disturbing or removing the entire hive.