The hive stand is an indispensable element in the nomadic apiary industry. It is optimally suited both for group placement of hives, and for 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 from the side of the hive. Compliance with this rule is of particular importance for structures with a direct notch, as this helps to prevent precipitation from entering the hole and accumulating water at the bottom of the hive.
Kinds
There are many types of stands suitable for various purposes. The most widespread are combined and wooden products. You can also find stands made of poles, as well as metal, the design of the legs of which can be fixed or folding.
Specifications
Such products are of particular importance in nomad apiaries, so they must comply with the requirements, which include the following:
- ability to withstand a constant load of about 100 kg (weight of precipitation, bees and the hive itself);
- lack of need for leaving, in addition to protection against moisture;
- ease of manufacture;
- collapsible design, which does not affect the tolerance of loads;
- maintaining the integrity of the hives during transportation;
- the possibility of compact folding to ensure transportation in a filled car;
- light weight;
- a design that provides unhindered installation on gentle slopes without the need for preliminary soil preparation.
Use of timber
A wooden stand for a beehive with your own hands can be made from improvised materials. For a large number of hives, you can use two short transverse beams with a sufficient cross-section, on which two longitudinal elements are laid. Wood is the best option for transported products due to its weight. But it is subject to decay and requires the use of protective coatings. The lower part of the structure can be replaced with thin-walled tubes or reinforced concrete blocks, but they are unsuitable for a nomad apiary.
In warm regions with a low level of snow cover, where there is no need for constant use of coasters, you can choose the cross-section of the bars in accordance with their length.
Features of wooden structures
It is not difficult to make stands with a base from a wooden cross beam. It is enough to drive into it two nails without a head with a thickness of at least 8 mm. As the supporting elements are bars with a length and width of 2.5 and 10 cm, respectively. Holes for nails are drilled into them, the connection with which will give the necessary fixation.
Simplicity of design and low cost of materials are the main advantages of wooden stands. They can have a variety of designs and can be done even by a novice beekeeper, who has never encountered the need to make such items. As noted earlier, they are subject to decay, which is why the period of operation becomes noticeably shorter. Individual elements, for example, transverse bars, fail even earlier, as they are constantly in contact with the soil.
Metal and combined products
The stand for the hive is quite common, for the creation of which plates from steel with a thickness in the range 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 structure is ensured by folds with a depth of at least 40 mm. A similar design can withstand 5 hives. The total width is approximately 2.5 meters, slight fluctuations are possible depending on the variety of the hives themselves.
There are combined stands for hives, a photo of which is presented below. They consist of wooden beams and metal pipes of suitable diameter. The resulting design is characterized by a long period of operation and durability. To prevent the tubes from sliding on the bar, the strips are fixed or the fold is cut.
Additions to metal options
Steel stands are often equipped with folding legs for compact transport. 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 heels. The possibility of free movement of the legs allows you to set the hives in shallow places, without worrying about the preliminary preparation of the soil. The disadvantage is a sufficiently large mass, complicating the transportation. Because of this, the manufacture of steel products for a large number of hives becomes irrational.
A metal stand for a beehive, the dimensions of which allow you to place more than four hives, can have not only folding, but also fixed legs. It is worth noting that to increase reliability, it is recommended to install an additional support in the central part.
What hive stands can be used for a nomad apiary?
To be installed on uneven terrain, the legs can be placed at various heights. In order to save more free space in the car, the stands are disassembled before transportation. It is recommended to install the screws for fixing so that they do not extend beyond the side parts of the stands, which greatly simplifies maintenance.
A beehive stand made of poles is less common due to its strong connection to the ground, which makes it impossible to transport and quickly decay that part of the wood that is submerged in the ground. For the manufacture of need stakes with a diameter of at least 70 mm. They need to be driven into the ground at a distance of about 30 cm from each other, round poles are fixed on top of them.
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 subsequent operation, it is necessary to check all the elements; if rot is detected, replace them with new ones.
Advantages and disadvantages
For the manufacture of structures, various materials are used. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Metal is the most reliable. Products from it will last for a long time, but as stationary stands, as they have a lot of weight. For the manufacture of the structure, additional materials and special tools are needed, for example, pipes and fittings are needed to fix all the components. A welding machine is also useful.
Among experienced and novice beekeepers, wood is quite popular, the hallmark of which is environmental friendliness and extensive use. The period of operation depends not only on the wood species, but also on the protective coatings used to prevent the occurrence of rot and insect damage.
Blocks and bricks are highly resistant. They have a lot of weight, but are ideal for arranging stationary stands.
The life of plastic products is significantly increased with proper use. But excessive exposure can lead to destruction of the structure and damage to the hives.
How to save
In large apiaries, any improvised materials are used for arranging stands, since buying a finished version for all the hives is too expensive. These designs are indispensable, as they provide protection against insects, moisture and other adverse factors. In addition, it simplifies the inspection of bees, the organization of migrations, the intake of honey and increases labor productivity.
Before making a stand for the hive, it is worth determining the variety and preparing the tools. This task is within the power of any novice beekeeper. As a simplified option, you can use a wooden box without a bottom into which foliage or dried grass is poured to reduce temperature differences. The wall thickness should be between 4-5 cm. It is worth noting 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.
It is recommended to supplement the metal stand with reliable wide legs and sides along the edges, this will prevent the subsidence of the soil and the sliding of the hives. The minimum height of the stand for a beehive of any kind is 30-35 cm.