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Log beekeeping has its roots in the distant past. With the advent of hives, the technology lost popularity, but did not remain forgotten. Avid beekeepers began to revive the old method of keeping bees, assuring that the most delicious honey is obtained from the logs.
The history of log beekeeping
Log beekeeping technology originated in the early 17th century. The beginning of the development of industry, the construction of cities, and sea vessels provoked massive deforestation. Wood was the main universal building material. To save the bee boards and hollows with bees, the beekeepers took them to their yard, installing them closer to their homes. Over time, an increase in beekeeping was required. The beekeepers found trees with a hollow and sawed the log lengthwise into two halves. The ridges were cleared of the inner core, and crosses were installed to secure the honeycombs.
After re-equipping it with my own hands, the hive-deck was ready to be lifted onto the tree, but such work is difficult to do. They began to place the decks on the ground in groups, choosing forest clearings on high ground for them.Preference was given to places where trees had been cut. From here, log beekeeping acquired the name “posek”, and later the word “apiary” appeared, which has survived to this day.
Caring for bee colonies in the deck and on the side is almost the same. Swarm beekeeping cannot be adjusted in a non-collapsible deck. The house was cut into several components. A new look at log beekeeping was born - a collapsible log, where the upper removable circles played the role of a honey store.
However, the development of technology for keeping bees in logs did not stop there. The small internal volume of the log house led to frequent swarming of bees. Beekeepers have mastered the technique of piece swarming and learned how to make layering. Over time, swarming bees began to be selected to strengthen weak families.
The insects only benefited from this. With the advent of collapsible log hives, man increased his interference in the natural process. The life activity of bees has become more complicated.
Benefits of keeping bees in logs
It is not advisable to recommend log beekeeping for beginning beekeepers due to the complexity of the technology. It makes more sense to start with the hives. On the other hand, keeping bees in decks has many advantages:
- In terms of environmental cleanliness, a beehive deck outperforms a modern house. In log beekeeping, artificial materials and chemicals are not used to control pests.
- In log hives, bees are less likely to be exposed to smoke and are less disturbed. Insects are much calmer.Log houses can be placed in the yard without fear of bees attacking people.
- The absence of frames provides freedom of action for insects. The bees fill the deck with honeycombs at their own discretion. Natural housing reduces the risk of insect diseases and pomors are reduced. The taste of honey improves. Bees adapt better to weather conditions.
- Log beekeeping requires minimal costs. There is no need to buy frames, food and some other equipment required for an apiary from hives.
- Log hives do not require omshanik for wintering. Bees spend the winter outside, creating an optimal microclimate inside the house.
- Collecting honey in logs causes less injury to bees. Only part of the honeycomb is taken from insects. The bees' nest is not disturbed. Honey remains in the log hive for winter food.
If the benefits are convincing, then making a bee deck can still be recommended even for beginners.
Deck structure
There are three types of log hives:
- vertical model;
- reclining type lounger;
- multi-tiered collapsible model.
The vertical model is similar in design board. A log up to 2 m long and at least 50 cm thick is cleared of its core. The thickness of the walls of the log hive is about 5 cm. The lower and upper openings of the logs are covered with lids.
The lounger is similarly made of logs. Sometimes a log house is made from planks in the shape of a parallelepiped. The difference between a lounger and a vertical model is its location. The structure is laid horizontally on stands at an angle of 30 O.
The multi-tiered model is assembled from collapsible sections. The amount depends on the intensity of honey collection and local conditions. There are usually 4 or 5 tiers in a deck. The internal diameter of each section is a maximum of 30 cm. The height of one tier is of similar dimensions.7-9 plastic rulers 4 mm thick and 15 mm wide are inserted inside each section. All plates are covered with wax.
Log beekeeping does not involve the use of frames. Bees contain honey in wax. However, there is a modern hive deck with frames called a "Combi". It consists of the following parts:
- bottom;
- deck body;
- the body of the Dadan hive, containing 12 frames;
- liner;
- the roof is of a gable structure, most often sheathed with galvanization.
“Combi” is assembled from tongue-and-groove boards 35 mm thick. The wood used is coniferous.
How to make a deck for bees with your own hands
If there is a desire to engage in log beekeeping, the beekeeper must know the structure of the log and its parameters. The blank is a log 2 m long. The outer thickness is selected so that the diameter of the internal space is 30-40 cm with a wall thickness of 5 cm. Only dry wood is used, preferably from hardwood.
Finding a suitable log is sometimes difficult. The 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 create a circular cross-section. The height of log houses made from boards is 120 cm.
Drawings, tools and materials
To make a deck you will need woodworking tools: an ax, a handsaw, chisels, a chainsaw, a plane. If the structure is made of boards, you need a woodworking machine.
A diagram of a log hive is not needed. There is nothing difficult about unraveling the workpiece and choosing the core. When making decks for bees from boards with your own hands, drawings are definitely needed. A sunbed with two holes, shown in the diagram, is considered a good option.
Assembly and installation process
To make a classic log deck, select a tree trunk of suitable size. The workpiece is dissolved lengthwise into two parts. The middle is selected until the wall thickness remains 5 cm. The blanks are left in the shade for further drying. 2 circular cuts are cut from the remains of the tree trunk. They will serve as the lid and bottom of the log hive for the bees.
When the two pieces are dry, they are joined into a log. At one of the seams there will be a taphole on the deck, so a slot 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 tap hole is ¾ of the height of the log.
The halves of the log should be tightly ground so that there are no gaps at the seams. The roof is adjusted in the same way. The cut is nailed to the log hive with wooden nails, having previously drilled holes. It is advisable to cover the inner plane of the ceiling with fabric so that bees do not attach honeycombs to it. The bottom from the second round cut is secured with loops. It should open to extract the honey. Inside the structure, one cross is placed under the ceiling, and the second approximately in the center. At this point, the deck for bees has been assembled with your own hands and can be installed in a prepared place.
Shapkin's modern log house for bees is assembled from boards. The design has a hexagon shape. The bottom and ceiling are made to open. The through passage simplifies the extraction of honeycombs along the entire length.
The complexity of manufacturing the structure lies in the need to cut locking joints on the boards. A special machine will be required. To simplify the process, amateur beekeepers make a Shapkin model from plywood.The elements are connected with slats, and foam plastic is used to insulate the walls.
The video shows an example of a homemade log hive:
Rules for keeping bees in decks
Before bees move in, slats are installed inside the log hive. 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 conventional hive. Crosses are attached to the walls. They are held in place by driven nails or nailed wooden blocks.
The basic rule for keeping bees in a log is the mandatory renewal of the nest. If this is not done, the cell size decreases over time. New bees are born small, and the productivity of the bee colony decreases. In the 3rd or 4th year, the family is sent in the fall to spend the winter in a regular hive. The inside of the log hive is cleaned, prepared, and in the spring the bees are returned to their home.
Bees in log houses are inspected no more than 3 times per season. The first inspection in the spring is associated with checking the family and feeding. During the second inspection, the honeycombs containing honey are cut off. The third inspection is preparatory for winter.
Conclusion
Log beekeeping allows beginners to start an apiary from scratch. Buying a hive is expensive, but cutting a log from a log can be done for free. You just need to make an effort and have the desire.
