Bee Hive Design Parameters

The design of bee hives is not a matter of aesthetics or prettiness, but is regulated by what bees do, or will tolerate when they are presented with a 'fait accompli'.

The various parameters that need to be regulated for the well being of both the bees and the beekeeper are set out in the paragraphs below and the pages that are linked in the menu at left or links in the text below.

In the text below, I have used the UK terminology. To avoid confusion, I have added other terms, mainly US derived, like this (aka....). R.P.

I have spent thousands of hours researching and designing beekeeping equipment (for UK use).

I hope some of what I have learned in the process will be useful to others.

"A" Is the roof (aka lid, telescoping cover or outer cover).

"B" This is the crownboard (aka coverboard or inner cover).

"C" Is a super for honey storage, but sometimes this position is occupied by a section rack. On other occasions this position might be occupied by an overall feeder.

"D" Is a super. (There may be any number of these and they are commonly shallower than the boxes used for brood.)

"E" Is a queen excluder.

"F" This is the brood box or brood chamber (but may consist of more than one box).

"G" The floor (aka bottom board) goes here but is sometimes replaced by a pollen trap.

"H" A stand is not absolutely essential in all conditions, but wherever damp weather prevails it is advisable.

There are other items that are used at various times during the season. They are:-

Ekes, Clearer (aka escape) boards, Feeders and various gadgets used in queen rearing. In addition, there may be boards, standard or home-made, for various manipulations.

Ease of manipulation is greatly enhanced if a degree of "modularity" is present. This modularity can have horizontal as well as vertical influence.

For instance if an eke is 75 mm tall and a super is 150 mm the brood chamber at 225 mm can be adapted from an eke and a super or two ekes can be pressed into service as a super.

If nucleus boxes are made half of the width of a brood box and the same length then (with the British system) two nuc boxes holding 5 frames each can sit on top of a brood box holding 11 frames.

By the same token three nucs each holding three frames also fit this footprint.

I have also tried using four modules each containing two frames, but these are difficult for the bees to thermo-regulate. Also, they are unstable if used singly.

The principle of four, twin frame nucs can be followed using a brood box with dividers as indeed can the two by five frame and the three by three frame systems.

D.A.C.

Page created pre-2011

Page updated 19/12/2022