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My bees and I are satisfied with BeeMax hives. Nevertheless, because the natural
tendency of bees is to keep the brood nest near the entrance, since 2005 I have been
using wooden hive bodies at the bottom of almost all of my hives (see below). I did so because
I prefer to raise healthy colonies. It is important to remember that propolis
provides numerous levels of protection. However, my personal observation shows that polystyrene
BeeMax hives with plastic Pierco frames cause the quantity of propolis to decrease by 75% as compared
to wooden hives with wooden frames. My THSCU (Temperature Humidity Self Control Units) helped me to avoid any big problems during all four seasons. To protect the Telescoping Covers from bending in high temperature (under the weight of stones or bricks placed above the cover), I added a 1/2 inch piece of painted plywood between each Telescoping Cover and the stones/bricks. Additionally, I placed painted plywood (or pressure treated 2x6(8) inch boards) between the Bottom Boards and the cement blocks. Finally, I closed the square holes of the Bottom Boards to protect the hives from rats during the winter. Click here to see tests info and tests results. |
Click on an image to view larger images.
"BeeMax" Polystyrene Hives:
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Assembled BeeMax Hives:
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BeeMax Bottom Board with Screen:
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BeeMax Hive August 01, 2004:
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BeeMax Swarm - August 05, 2004:
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BeeMax Hive October 01, 2004:
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Bees started to cover hole(Oct.04):
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Bees winterizing job(Oct.04,2004):
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BeeMax Hive October 26, 2004:
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BeeMax Hives-January 21, 2005
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"Out Hive" Temp.-January 21, 2005:
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"In THSC Unit" Temp.-Jan21, 2005:
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Healthy Family - April 6,2005
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Same Hive, Body #1 - April 8,2005
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Same Hive, Body #2 - April 8,2005
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One 2"(1 1/2) X 10"(9 1/4) X 12' board is cost less than one BeeMax
hive body.
You can make two wooden hive bodies from one board. Just cut it precisely
on eight pieces: 17 3/4" - four pieces and 18 1/4" - four pieces. March 26, 2008 |
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