How to Construct a Bee-Hive

Anyone can make his own hive. The details of the construction should be rigidly followed to avoid unnecessary annoyance and irritation during the use of the hives. The parts and size of each part of the hive are given here.

A. Stand

Any four-legged stand having 15 -20 cm height with upper dimensions that supports the bottom board of the hive properly works as a stand.

B. Bottom board

It is made from a piece of wood 558.8 mm x 406.2 mm x 23 millimetres. Along each end of the longer side, is nailed a wooden rod measuring 558.8 x 23 mm x 23 millimetres. Another wooden rod of 361 mm x 23 mm size is nailed at the back. The front is provided with an entrance rod of 361 mm 23 mm x 23 mm size and this rod have a hole measuring 76.2 mm long and 9.6 mm deep in its middle. Two wooden blocks, to be used for shortening the entrance when necessary, should also be prepared, each block being 76.2 mm x 33 mm x 23 mm. in size.

C. Brood chamber

It is a rectangular box without a top and bottom and is made of 23 mm thick wood. Its length and width outside are 508 mm and 406.2 mm inside the length is 455 mm, and width 361 mm respectively. Its height inside is 233 millimetres. A rabbet 19 mm deep and 11 mm wide is cut along the entire length of its width plank.

D. Standard frame

There are ten frames in each hive. Each frame on completion has an outside measurement of 44lmm x 221.3 millimetres. It consists of a top bar, two sidebars and a bottom bar. There are two types of frames (1) self spacing frame and (2) staple spacing frame.

1. Self spacing frame

The dimensions of this type of frame are given here.

(i) Top bar: It is 482.6 mm long, 25.4 mm wide and 23 mm thick. It is cut to 9.6 rnrn thickness on both sides for a length of 22.1 millimetres. It has a groove in the middle of its lower side for fixing the comb foundation sheet.

(ii) Sidebar: Each sidebar is made from 9.6 mm thick wood and is 221.3 rnrn long. The upper part of each is 37 mm wide and the lower part is 25.4 mm wide. Each is cut out from the middle portion at either end to accommodate the top and the bottom bars respectively. There are four holes in each sidebar for wiring the frame.

(iii) Bottom bar: It is 441 mm long, 17 mm wide and 9.6 mm thick.

(iv) Wire: Tinned wire of 28 gauzes should be used in wiring the frame.

2. Staple spacing frame

The dimensions of the staple spacing frame are mentioned here.

(i) Top bar: Top bar is 482.6 mm long, 25.4 mm wide and 23 mm thick. It is cut to 9.6 mm thickness on both sides to obtain a length of 22.1 millimetres. It has a groove in the middle of its lower side for fixing the comb foundation sheet. It is furnished with metal spacing devices on each end of its opposite faces.

(ii) Sidebar: Each sidebar is made up of 9.6 mm thick wood measuring 217 mm long and 254 mm wide. There are four holes on each side of the bar for wiring the frame.

(iii) Bottom bar: It is 423 mm long, 25.4 mm wide, and 9.6 mm thick.

(iv) Staple: Two staples, each of 19 mm size should be driven in (to leave only 9.6 m outside) the top bar on its opposite sides so that the frames stand 37 mm apart.

(v) Wire: Tinned wire of 28 gauzes should be used in wiring the frame.

E. Super

The dimension of the super and the superframes should be the same as those of the brood chamber and the brood chamber frames, respectively.

F. Inner cover

This is a wooden board to cover the brood chamber or the super as the case may be. It is a 508 mm long, 406.2 mm broad and 9.6 mm thick wood. It has 9.6 mm thick and 23 mm wide wooden bar nailed on to each of its four sides.

G. Top cover

The beekeeper has a choice to use either sloping top cover or flat top cover depending on the tile situation.

1. Sloping top cover

A wooden frame with 508 x 406.2 mm outside measurements are made with eave sides and 660.4 mm long slanting board is nailed on top for the rainwater to shed off the sides. The joints should be securely covered over. It rests loosely over the hive.

2. Flat top cover

It is made of a 9.6 mm thick wooden board nailed to a rectangular frame 50.8 mm high, all covered over with a zinc sheet so as to make it waterproof. Its inside measurements are 533.4 x 431.8 millimetres. It also rests loosely over the hive.

Also, read about commercial beekeeping in India.