Stand under the hive own hands

Stand under the hive is an indispensable element in the nomadic passe production. It is optimal for both group placing of hives and single.

The standard distance between the ground and the bottom of the hive is about 30 cm. The hives themselves must have a horizontal location or a minimum slope on the side of the tap hole. Compliance with this rule is of particular importance for direct-draft designs, as this helps to avoid precipitation in the hole and the accumulation of water on the bottom of the hive.

Kinds

There are many kinds of supports suitable for different purposes. The greatest distribution was purchased by combined and wooden products. You can also find supports made of poles, as well as metal, the design of the legs can be fixed or folded.

Characteristics

Such products are particularly important in nomad apiaries, so they must meet the requirements, which include the following:

• Ability to withstand a constant load of about 100 kg (weight of precipitation, bees and the hive itself);
• No need for maintenance, in addition to protection from moisture;
• Simplicity of manufacture;
• Folding structure, which does not affect the load tolerance;
• Preservation of the integrity of hives during transport;
• The possibility of compact folding to ensure transportation in a filled car;
• Light weight;
• The design providing unimpeded installation on gentle slopes without the need for preliminary soil preparation.

Use of a bar

A wooden stand under the hive with its own hands can be made from improvised materials. For a large number of hives, two short cross bars with a sufficient cross-section can be used, on which two longitudinal elements are laid. Wood is the optimal option for transported products due to its weight. But it is prone to rot and requires the use of protective coatings. The lower part of the structure can be replaced by thin-walled tubes or blocks of reinforced concrete, but they are unsuitable for a nomadic apiary.

In warm regions with a low level of snow cover, where there is no need for constant use of supports, you can choose the cross-section of the bars according to their length.

Features of wooden structures

It does not cause difficulties in the manufacture of supports with a base of a wooden cross bar. It is enough to drive into it two nails without a head with a thickness of at least 8 mm. As supporting elements are bars with a length and width of 2.5 and 10 cm, respectively. In these holes for nails are drilled, the connection with which will give the necessary fixation.

Simplicity of construction and cheapness of materials are the main advantages of wooden supports. They can have a variety of performance and can even be applied to a beginner beekeeper who has never encountered the need to make such objects. As noted earlier, they are prone to rot, which is why the service life is noticeably less. Individual elements, for example, cross bars, fail even earlier, because they constantly contact the soil.

Metal and combined products

The stand under the hive is quite common, for the creation of which plates of steel with a thickness of 20-25 mm are used. It is easy to manufacture and does not require special tools and knowledge. Plates should have a width of about 15 cm, the stability of the construction is ensured by folds with a depth of at least 40 mm. This design can withstand 5 hives. The total width is about 2.5 meters, there may be slight variations depending on the variety of the hives themselves.

There are combined stands under the hive, the photos of which are presented below. They consist of wooden beams and metal pipes, a suitable diameter. The received design differs a long period of operation and durability. To prevent slipping tubes on the bar fixed slats or cut the fold.

Additions to metal variants

Steel stands are often equipped with folding legs for compactness during transportation. As a rule, a tubular structure is made, it is suitable for use with three hives. Excessive immersion in the ground can be prevented by welding metal patches. The possibility of free movement of the legs allows you to install the hives in gently sloping places, without worrying about the preliminary preparation of the soil. The disadvantage is a rather large mass, which complicates transportation. Because of this, making steel products for a large number of hives becomes irrational.

The metal stand under the hive, the dimensions of which allow placing more than four hives, can have not only foldable but also fixed legs. It is worth noting that to increase the reliability it is recommended to install additional head in the central part.

Which supports for hives can be used for a nomadic apiary

To install on uneven territory, the legs can be placed at different heights. In order to save more space in the car, the stands are dismantled before transportation. It is recommended to install the screws for fixing in such a way that they do not extend beyond the side parts of the supports, which greatly simplifies the maintenance.

The stand under the hive, made of poles, is less common due to a strong connection with the ground, leading to the impossibility of transportation and the rapid decay of that part of the wood that is immersed in the ground. For manufacturing, stakes with a diameter of at least 70 mm are required. They need to be driven into the ground at a distance of about 30 cm, on top of them are fixed poles of round shape.

Over time, such a stand under the hive becomes less stable, so it is used only as a temporary option or on a nomadic apiary. Before the subsequent operation it is necessary to check all the elements, if there are any rotten ones, replace them with new ones.

Advantages and disadvantages

Various materials are used for making structures. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. The metal is the most reliable. Products from it will last for a long time, but as stationary supports, since they have a lot of weight. To produce the construction, additional materials and special tools are needed, for example, pipes and fittings are needed to fix all the components. Also, a welding machine is useful.

Among experienced and novice beekeepers, wood is very popular, with a distinctive feature is ecological compatibility and extensive use. The service life depends not only on the wood species, but also on the protective coatings used to prevent rot and insect damage.

The blocks and bricks are characterized by high stability. They have a lot of weight, but they are ideal for equipping stationary stands.

The service life of plastic products increases significantly with proper use. But excessive exposure can lead to destruction of the structure and damage to the hives.

How to save money

On large apiaries for the arrangement of supports in the course are any improvised materials, as buying a ready-made option for all hives is too expensive. These structures are irreplaceable, as they provide protection against insect penetration, moisture ingress and other unfavorable factors. In addition, it simplifies the inspection of bees, the organization of migrations, the extraction of honey and increases labor productivity.

Before making a stand under the hive, it is necessary to decide on the variety and prepare the tools. This task is possible for any beginner beekeeper. As a simplified version, you can use a wooden box without a bottom, which is filled with foliage or dried grass to reduce temperature differences. The thickness of the walls should be within 4-5 cm. It should be noted that special importance is given to the coincidence of the walls of the hive and the structure itself. This is necessary to ensure the stability of the structure to atmospheric phenomena.

The metal stand is recommended to be supplemented with reliable wide legs and edges at the edges, this will prevent the subsidence of the ground and the sliding of the hives. The minimum height of the stand under the hive of any kind is 30-35 cm.