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Log beekeeping has its roots in the distant past. With the advent of hives, the technology has lost its popularity, but has not remained forgotten. Avid beekeepers began to revive the old method of keeping bees, assuring that the most delicious honey is obtained in the logs.
The history of the emergence of log beekeeping
Log beekeeping technology originated in the early 17th century. The beginning of the development of industry, the construction of cities, ships provoked massive deforestation. Wood was the main universal building material. To save the boards and hollows with bees, bee keepers took them to their yard, setting them closer to their dwellings. Over time, it took an increase in beekeeping. Bortniki found trees with a hollow, sawed a log lengthwise into two halves. The ridges were cleaned from the inner core, crosses were installed to fix the combs.
After re-equipping with his own hands, the hive-log was ready for climbing a tree, but it is difficult to do such work. They began to put the decks on the ground in groups, choosing for them forest clearings on a hill. Preference was given to places where trees were planted. From here, the log beekeeping acquired the name "poseka", and later the word "apiary" appeared, which has survived to this day.
Caring for bee colonies in the deck and board is almost the same. Swarming beekeeping cannot be adjusted in a non-collapsible deck. The house was cut into several parts. A new look was born on the log beekeeping - a collapsible log, where the upper removable circles played the role of a honey store.
However, the development of the technology for keeping bees in the log did not stop there. The small internal volume of the well house led to frequent swarms of bees. Beekeepers have mastered the method of piece swarming, learned how to make layering. Over time, they began to select the swarm bee to strengthen the weak families.
The insects only benefited from this. With the advent of collapsible log hives, man intensified his intervention in the natural process. The life of the bees has become more complicated.
Benefits of breeding bees in decks
It is undesirable to recommend log beekeeping for novice beekeepers due to the complexity of the technology. It makes more sense to start with the hives. From the other side, keeping bees in logs has many advantages:
- In terms of environmental friendliness, the hive-log wins over a modern house. In log beekeeping, artificial materials and chemicals are not used for pest control.
- In well hives, bees are less likely to smoke with a smoke, less disturbed. Insects are much calmer. Log houses can be placed in the yard without fear of bees attacking people.
- The lack of a framework gives insects freedom of action. The bees fill the deck with honeycombs as they wish. Natural dwelling reduces the risk of insect diseases, and pomor decreases. The taste of honey improves. Bees adapt better to weather conditions.
- Deck beekeeping requires a minimum of costs. There is no need to buy frames, feed and some other equipment that is in demand for an apiary from hives.
- Well hives do not need Omshanik for wintering. Bees hibernate outside, creating an optimal microclimate inside the house.
- Collecting honey in decks inflicts less injury on the bees. Only part of the combs are taken from insects. The bee nest is not disturbed. Honey remains in the log hive for winter feed.
If the advantages are convincing, then making a log for bees can still be recommended even for beginners.
Deck device
There are three types of deck hives:
- vertical model;
- inclined lounger;
- multi-tiered collapsible model.
The design of the vertical model resembles fight... A log up to 2 m long and at least 50 cm thick has been cleared from the core. The thickness of the walls of the log hive is about 5 cm. The lower and upper opening of the log is covered with lids.
The lounger is similarly made of a log. Sometimes a block house is knocked out of boards in the shape of a parallelepiped. The difference between the lounger and the vertical model is its location. The structure is laid horizontally on supports at an angle of 30 about.
The multi-tiered model is assembled from collapsible sections. The amount depends on the intensity of honey collection and local conditions. Usually there are 4 or 5 tiers in a deck. The inner diameter of each section is a maximum of 30 cm. The height of one tier is of the same size. 7-9 plastic rulers 4 mm thick and 15 mm wide are inserted inside each section. All plates are covered with wax.
Deck beekeeping does not provide for the use of frames. Bees contain honey in a foundation. However, there is a modern beehive deck with frames called "Combi". It consists of the following parts:
- bottom;
- deck body;
- the body of the Dadanov hive, containing 12 frames;
- roof liner;
- gable roof structure, most often sheathed with galvanized.
The "Combi" is assembled from a grooved board 35 mm thick. Coniferous wood is used.
How to make a do-it-yourself bee deck
If there is a desire to engage in log beekeeping, the beekeeper should know the structure of the log and the parameters. A log with a length of 2 m serves as a blank. The outer thickness is selected so that the diameter of the inner space is 30-40 cm with a wall thickness of 5 cm. Only dry wood is used, preferably from hardwood.
It is sometimes difficult to find a suitable log. A way out of the situation is a deck for bees made of boards, which has a rectangular shape on the outside. Inside, the corners are smoothed with triangular slats to get a circular cross-section. In terms of height, block houses from boards are made 120 cm.
Drawings, tools and materials
To make a log, you will need a woodworking tool: an ax, a hand saw, chisels, a chainsaw, a plane. If the structure is made of boards, a woodworking machine is needed.
A log hive scheme is not needed. There is nothing difficult in that to dissolve the workpiece and select the core. When making do-it-yourself bee decks from boards, drawings are definitely needed. A good option is a lounger with two entrances, shown in the diagram.
Build and install process
To make a classic log deck, a tree trunk of suitable sizes is selected. The workpiece is dissolved lengthwise into two parts. The middle is chosen until the wall thickness of 5 cm remains. The workpieces are left in the shade for further drying. 2 circular saw cuts are cut from the remains of the tree trunk. They will serve as the lid and the bottom of a well bee hive.
When the two blanks are dry, they are combined into a log. On one of the seams there will be a notch on the deck, so a gap is cut in advance. In height, it is located above 3 cm from the bottom and goes up to the ceiling. The total length of the taphole is ¾ of the log height.
The halves of the log should be firmly ground in so that no gaps remain at the seams. The roof is adjusted in the same way.The saw cut is nailed to the well hive with wooden nails, after pre-drilling the holes. It is advisable to cover the inner plane of the ceiling with a cloth so that the bees do not attach the honeycomb to it. The bottom from the second round saw cut is fastened with hinges. It should open for honey extraction. Inside the structure, one cross is placed under the ceiling, and the second is approximately in the center. On this, a do-it-yourself bee deck is assembled, you can install it in a prepared place.
Shapkin's modern log house for bees is assembled from a board. The design has the shape of a hexagon. The bottom and ceiling are made openable. The walk-through makes it easy to remove the honeycomb along its entire length.
The complexity of manufacturing the structure lies in the need to cut the lock joints on the boards. A special machine is required. To simplify the process, amateur beekeepers make Shapkin's model from plywood. The elements are connected with slats, and foam is used to insulate the walls.
In the video, an example of a homemade log hive:
Rules for keeping bees in decks
Before settling bees inside the well hive, planks are installed. The quantity depends on the internal dimensions of the case. The distance between the slats is the same as between the honeycomb frames in a regular hive. Crosspieces are attached to the walls. They are held in place by hammered nails or nailed wooden blocks.
The basic rule for keeping bees in the log is the obligatory renewal of the nest. If you do not do this, the size of the cells decreases over time. New bees are born small, the productivity of the bee colony decreases. For 3 or 4 years, the family is sent to winter in an ordinary hive in the fall. The inside of the well hive is cleaned, prepared, and in the spring the bees are returned to their homes.
Bees in well houses are examined no more than 3 times per season. The first inspection in the spring is associated with checking the family, feeding. During the second examination, the honeycomb is cut off. The third inspection is preparatory for the winter.
Conclusion
Deck beekeeping allows beginners to start an apiary from scratch. Buying a beehive is expensive, and you can cut a deck out of a log for free. You just need to make an effort and have a desire.
