Top Bar Beekeeping Forum

[Greg]

I am working on a bit of a pet theory at the moment, but I need more data from those out there with observation windows in their hives.

1/ Do you have comb attached to the window? just a bit here and there, or a good portion of the comb? How big is your window and how many comb are attached?

2/ Do you have comb attached to the other side of the hive like you do against the window?

3/ Is your window flush with the inside of the hive wall?

4/ And just in case, what angle are your hive walls at from the horizontal?


I'll share more once I can get some data from folks!

oh and if you do and can post small pics of the comb attached to the window please do so, or email me

cheers and thanks!
Greg
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Forward into the past;
Life as it should be.

http://cavalier.pointclark.net/blog/

[wannabee]

Hello Greg,
I have observation windows in my hives, but I just moved all my bees and made a split into a larger hive with a smaller window (to give the rear nuc more privacy and to force myself to be a little more hands on with management).
Currently my 4' hive has a window that is about 18" long and 4" wide, so I can see most of the main comb area but not the first three or four bars of comb. I will try to send a pic or two when our weather stabilizes some, it has gone from 100 degrees to thunderstorms, rain and 68, and the bees and I have still quite a mess to deal with, now I am, hilariously, waiting for it to warm up.

1/ In the old hive (3', with a 24x6 inch window), there was considerable brace comb built on the rear honey combs, and as I found this weekend, they needed it! Probably 3-4" per comb, with most brace near the top third of the comb. There were 5 of those. One of the rear brood combs was being backfilled with honey also had about an inch of brace on it, again, near the top. Some of the brace was filled with honey.
Since I have moved them, the honeycomb that didn't collapse during or after the move was rebraced immediately by the bees within a couple of hours.

2/ The far side of the combs were also braced, it seemed about equally.

3/ My windows are 1/4" plexi which is not flush, but attached to the inside of the hive with mirror hardware. Beeswax seems to stick to plexi just fine.

4/ The hives are 15" wide and 12" (the old 3 footer) or 13" (the new four footer) deep, not sure what that angle is...but I can go figure it out. The older central brood comb was straight and perfectly mimicked the interior dimensions (minus beespace of course). Gorgeous.

Hope this helps!
cheers
Laura
_________________
Wannabee
Portland, OR

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
-Benjamin Franklin

[wannabee]

Oh yeah, on 4/ the top of the hive is 15", it is 12 or 13" deep, and the bottom is 7 1/2" wide, which will help you determine the angle.

cheers
Laura
_________________
Wannabee
Portland, OR

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
-Benjamin Franklin

[Greg]

thanks Laura and hope things are moving along smoothly for you!

I am trying to determine if bees attach comb to the observation window more readily than against the wooden side of the hive.

Just to confirm, your observation window sticks into the hive its 1/4" thickness?

I look forward to seeing your pics!

thanks
Greg
_________________
Forward into the past;
Life as it should be.

http://cavalier.pointclark.net/blog/

[GarlyDog]

Greg,

I have read on the forum, in other posts, that the bees don't readily attach to the glass. In my two hives, they have left the Hivecam glass perfectly clean, but the rest of the hive is completely lined with propolis.

I have also read, in other posts, that the preferred method for attaching the glass is to make it more or less flush with the inside of the hive, to prevent any building from the top of the window frame. In other words, the glass is just glued to the inside of the hive and just covering the cutout. I don't think perfectly flush is necessary. In my case, the thickness of the glass and glue is the amount the window is sticking out on the inside of the hive. This is how I made my windows for the HiveCam and they work fine.

Good luck!
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http://www.HiveCam.com

[biobee]

I don't know about glass, but I can say for sure that they attach to Plexiglass/Perspex.
_________________
The Barefoot Beekeeper www.biobees.com

[bbhb]

They also had their first official bee club meeting this weekend and posted photos here: http://homepage.mac.com/sean_p_burns/PhotoAlbum9.html

My TBH (which I purchased from them this spring and the plans/specs are on their web site) is full of lazy bees, but they have attached brace to the non-windowed side. My combs are a little deeper on the non-window side, too. I do not think they are avoiding the window, however. I think they just like that side of the hive.

They propolized the entire entrance (end entrance) except for two small openings on the right. BTW, the non-windowed side of the hive is the first to get hit by sunlight in the morning.

[Greg]

hmm some good info there; Seems like maybe I should add to the questions what type of window one has.. plexi or glass.
_________________
Forward into the past;
Life as it should be.

http://cavalier.pointclark.net/blog/

[wannabee]

Hey Greg,
Yes, the plexiglas protrudes on the inside of the hive 1/4 inch.

Thanks for the good wishes, I still have some cleaning up to do. Waiting for the weather to settle back down....

cheers
Laura
_________________
Wannabee
Portland, OR

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
-Benjamin Franklin

[CritterMap]

[biobee]

A friend of mine has built a double-glazed Warré hive entirely in glass! It will be installed at our local rare breeds farm as an exhibit next year, so that should give some useful information.
_________________
The Barefoot Beekeeper www.biobees.com

[deantn]

Would like to see the hive made from glass a couple of pictures would be nice.
_________________
Certified Bee Inspector, TN.
Computer Repair

[biobee]

[Gordo]

[biobee]

I like to give you something to look forward to!
_________________
The Barefoot Beekeeper www.biobees.com