To solve the problem of transporting a bee colony, experienced beekeepers construct boxes for bee packages, in which they create all the necessary conditions for insects. Such structures resemble hives, however, they are made much easier and easier, since they have minimal requirements, namely, to provide space for good transportability of bees. How to make such boxes, we will find out further.
Why do you need a box?
A bee package is a complete bee colony for sale that has a queen and a certain number of bees. The basis of the future honey family depends on the formation of the package. It happens according to the following principle:
- A healthy bee colony is selected.
- Part of the honeycomb, food and insects themselves are taken from the selected hive.
- All this is neatly moved into a special box in which the bees will need to be delivered to the buyer.
Thus, a box for bee packages is a box in which frames with honeycombs are placed for their subsequent transportation. The number of these frames can vary, but is often 4 (500x200x400 mm) or 6 (500x300x400 mm).
Some beekeepers use stapled hives to transport insects, but they often fall apart on the way like a house of cards. Therefore, the preferred option is to use specialized boxes.
Drawer design
Such products can be of different sizes and types, however, in any case, they must be designed in such a way that they contain such fundamental components:
- frames with printed bee brood, between which there should be free space;
- strong fastenings for frames, which should be located at the top and bottom to prevent damage during transportation;
- ventilation holes;
- feeders.
As a rule, beekeepers make boxes for 4 or 6 frames, based on a special GOST standard for a honeycomb bag with bees. It defines the basic norms and boundaries of different bee packages. You can see them from the table:
Parameter | 4 frame package | 6 frame package | Notes |
Number of bees | 1.2KG | 1.5KG | — |
Fetal uterus | 1 kg | 1 kg | — |
Honeycomb | 4 pieces | 6 items | — |
Brood in terms of honeycombs measuring 435x300 mm | 1.5 pieces | 2 pieces | — |
Drone | acceptable if the supplied bee colonies match the zoned bee breed | ||
Food for bees (in some combs up to 1.5 kg) | 3 Kg | 4 kg | natural honey or 60% sugar syrup is suitable as feed |
Food for the uterus | 15 g | 15 g | Candy is used as feed |
When making a box for bee packages, you can proceed from the specified standards, while adapting it to the frames of the required size, since all hives are different, respectively, and bee frames.
Types of package boxes
Depending on the availability of honeycombs, boxes for bee packages are of two types - honeycomb and non-honeycomb. In modern beekeeping, honeycomb bags are more popular, for which special containers for transportation are made. We will consider the characteristics of these structures separately.
Cellular (frame)
Packages of this type consist of 4 or 6 Dadant-Blatt frames measuring 435x300 mm. As standard, three of them are with brood, and one more with feed. Meanwhile, the beekeeper can change such parameters, for example, using 2 frames with brood and 2 frames with feed. However, it must be borne in mind that the less feed in the bag, the less distance the bees can be transported. Such a package looks like a small narrow beehive.
Cellless (frameless)
A similar package contains a complex of one fetal uterus, which is placed in a separate cell. It also accommodates other worker bees, as well as feeders and drinkers. Syrup or candy can be used as feed.
According to GOST, a cell-free package must contain at least 1.2 kg of working insects. At the same time, deviations from the norm in 100-200 g are permissible.
These bags are suitable for all types of hives. In fact, it is a rectangular box. Its front and back walls are made of mesh, and the side walls are made of wood. The floor and ceiling are also made of wood.
Such constructions allow:
- minimize monetary costs for the prevention and control of bee diseases;
- easily and quickly update the cellular system;
- reduce the cost of transporting a bee colony;
- to simplify the maintenance and care of bee colonies obtained from packages after a month's transplant;
- regularly check the condition of the uterus and the entire family, while not disturbing the insects.
Drawings for the design of the box
In the subject literature, drawings of honeycomb boxes for bee bags are given, and with an indication of the exact dimensions of all parts. Classic schemes are as follows:
Components of the structure: 1 - bar 5x19x520 (8 pieces); 2 - bar 15x19x200 (9 pieces); 3 - top comb (2 pieces); 4 - plate 4x200x330 (1 piece); 5 - bar 15x19x390 (8 pieces); 6 - bottom comb (2 pieces); 7 - bar 15x19x160 (2 pieces); 8 - plate 4x20x100 (4 pieces); 9 - bar 15x19x240 (4 pieces); 10 - plate 4x20x160 (1 piece); 11 - plate with a recess (1 piece); 12 - honeycomb frame; 13 - nail 2x45; 14 - nail 1.6x40; 15 - mesh 120x200 (2 pieces); 16 - cell; 17 - nail 1.8x32; 18 - nail 1.2x20; 19 - plate 4x20x70 (1 piece); 20 - bar with a notch (1 piece).
To understand how the frames are attached and at what distance to prevent damage to the shoulders during transportation, you should look at the cross-sectional drawing of the box:
This diagram shows the following details: 1 - bar 15x19x520 (8 pieces); 2 - plywood plate 4x240x520 (2 pieces); 3 - plate 4x430x520 (2 pieces); 4 and 5 - lower and upper combs; 6 - a pressure bar.
In order to more accurately understand all the components of the box, it is worth studying the general view of them, which looks like this:
The diagram shows the following design details: 1 and 2 - lower and upper combs; 3 - block with a recess; 4 and 5 - plates with a recess; 6 - cover; 7 - side wall of the trough; 8 - scion petal.
On the basis of the above drawings, every home craftsman can design a box for bee packages, adjusting only its height, depth and width.
Manufacturing instructions
You can assemble a box for bee bags according to different instructions, but plywood or fiberboard should be used as the main material, since this is a light and inexpensive raw material that does not require serious preliminary preparation. We will consider further options for how to assemble a box for transporting bees on its basis.
Box for 8 frames
To make the box roomy, but easy to carry, it is best to make it for 8 frames. Such a box should also be equipped with a straight lid and a special belt holder to make it easier to carry by the beekeeper. The following drawings will help with assembly:
To assemble the box, you need to prepare the following materials and tools:
- plywood sheets with a thickness of at least 4 mm (if the box is planned to be used as a garden chair in the future, it can be made from more durable chipboard sheets);
- slats measuring 45x20 mm;
- self-tapping screws or thin boot nails;
- galvanized paper clip for external fixing of the cover;
- 2 regular hinges for internal fixing of the lid;
- nylon belt and stainless steel fastener (for example, self-tapping screws);
- thermal tape approximately 1 mm thick, which is used to insulate windows for the winter.
The box is assembled in the following order:
- Prepare the components of the structure - front, back and 2 side walls (dimensions 300x330), cover and bottom.
- At a distance of 15 mm from the edge of the upper part of the front wall, nail a rail, the length of which is 300 mm, width - 45 mm, height - 20 mm. Thus, it will be possible to obtain folds, that is, the emphasis of the future design. Nail the same planks from the outside, but without indents.
- Cut out the vent hole at the bottom of the front of the case and close it with a fine mesh, which can be arrived with a regular construction stapler. Some beekeepers neglect such a hole, but this is not the right decision, because without proper ventilation inside the box, honey will "suffocate".
- To the back wall (has the same dimensions as the front), arrive the slats, but only outside - above and below. You don't need to indent the edges.
- Nail the side panels 300x330 mm in size to the front and rear walls, and then stuff 2 slats on their outer surface - at the top and bottom. This makes the box easy to handle.
- To seal the box, glue the panel for the lid from the inside with thermal tape around the entire perimeter, and then attach it to the walls with hinges.
- Nail the bottom with nails.
- Screw the covering part of the galvanized fastener to the cover, and the fixed part to the sidewall. At the end, nail the belt for carrying the box.
The capacity of the box for 8 frames is over 10 kg. It closes tightly and can be stored near the hive without fear for the safety of the collected honey.
Box for 10 frames
It is a lightweight construction that takes up little space and can be used to transport bees in a car. It looks like this:
A similar box holds 10 Dadan frames (470x300 mm) and is a frame structure. For its manufacture, you need to use bars with a size of at least 25x25 mm. It is advisable that they are of the same size so that the assembled box is as neat as possible. The sides can be made of hardboard (thick pressed cardboard), the front and back walls - from plywood with a thickness of at least 4 mm, the bottom and lid - from plywood 10 mm thick.
The calculation of the inner dimensions of the box is as follows:
- 37 (frame thickness) x 10 (number of frames) = 370 mm (width);
- 300 (frame height) + 20 (space between frames) = 230 mm (height);
- 470 mm (drawer length according to frame length).
The calculation of the outer dimensions of the box is based on the dimensions of the slats used. They are held in the following table:
Detail | Dimensions (length x height x width), mm | Amount |
Horizontal bars | 430x30x30 | 4 |
Horizontal bars for sidewalls | 530x30x30 | 4 |
Vertical bars | 320x30x30 | 8 |
Internal bars | 370x15x10 | 2 |
Hardboard for side walls | 530x380 | 2 |
Plywood 4 mm for front and back walls | 430x380 | 2 |
Plywood 10 mm for bottom and cover | 530x430 | 2 |
Nails or furniture staples | 15-20 | 20-30 |
Drawer screws | 50-60 | 16 |
Hinge screws, tap hole | 15 | 10 |
Drawer closing screws | 30 | 7-10 |
Hinges | — | 2 |
Having prepared everything you need, you can make a box according to the following scheme:
- Assemble the wall frame on which to nail plywood or hardboard.
- On the front and back walls from the inside, nail a bar that will hold the box. This can be done after assembly, although it will be less convenient.
- After assembling all four parts, connect the parts together using screws and a 90º angle.
- Align the bottom and nail in place.
- Put the hinges on the lid, and then screw them to the walls. It will open completely, causing discomfort during work. However, this can be avoided if a rope is brought with the help of two furniture brackets so that the lid opens only 110-120º.
And at the end, put a small piece of hardboard on a small screw and close the tap hole.
An experienced craftsman can easily cope with such assembly and operation of the finished box, but even in this case, a number of nuances should be taken into account:
- A ventilation hole of 10x10 cm should be made in the lid, and then closed with a metal or plastic mesh. However, this approach is ineffective if a canvas is placed on top of the bees during transportation so that they do not come out of the box. In this case, it is more expedient to drill many holes of 3 mm with a thin drill on the front and rear walls.
Even if there are ventilation openings when transporting bees in the car, it is worth opening the windows to provide fresh air for the insects.
- When transporting bees, you should close the lid and the entrance. To do this, you need to have a screwdriver and a set of screws with you. Of course, normal locks can also be used if purchased from a hardware store first.
- During transport, bees will hang out or flock together. So, you will have to have small wedges with you, with which you can fix the frames with dividers. If there are none, you will have to use a metal tape, which will need to be pierced over the frames and fixed in the same way. An alternative option is to use small wedges, but they will not be able to stay in place until the end of the trip.
The crafted box can also be used as a trap, swarm or frame storage container.
Features of mounting frames
This step has the same meaning as the stage of forming the bee packs. The fastening technology is simple, but it must be strictly observed, otherwise the bees may suffer during transportation.
It is necessary to fix the frames in such a way that the frames with the queen and brood are located in the center, and closer to the walls - frames with cells, which will subsequently be filled with honey. Empty honeycombs will be located between them. The total weight of the package can be up to 16 kg.
How to transplant bees from a homemade box into a hive?
After transportation, you should cover the box with a lid and leave it for several days so that the insects calm down and fly around. At the same time, they should be fed with sugar syrup, which will speed up the period of their adaptation after transportation. Bees are also worth examining, removing those that get sick after the trip. Healthy insects can be moved to the hive. In this case, one must proceed from the type of bee package:
- Cellular... Works are carried out in cool weather. Initially, the package is installed in front of the hive in such a way that the entrances look in one direction. Then the entrance opens, after which the bees fly out and get used to the new place. At this time, the beekeeper needs to rearrange the frames from the box to the hive, observing the same order of their arrangement. If not all the bees flew out and remained in the bag, they must be carefully swept onto the frames in the hive. The queen should be released only after all the bees have calmed down.
- Frameless... In this case, the honeycomb must be prepared in advance, taking about 3-4 Dadan-Blatt frames for 1.3 kg of bees. After transportation, insects need to be placed for 3-7 days in a cool place (for example, in a cellar), providing them with water and food. When relocating bees, you need to open the lid of the box, find the queen in a small box, open it slightly and place it in the center between the rows, without completely letting go of the cage. The entire open bag should be placed in the hive, but if there is no room, insects can be released inside. The next day, you can move the uterus. By this time, the bees are already adapting, so the entire bag can be removed from the hive.
If you need to make a box and a watering can for a cell-free package, you should take into account the recommendations from the video below:
Boxes for bee packages are simple designs that can be easily made with your own hands in a home workshop, using ready-made drawings, scrap materials and tools. In this case, you need to act carefully and carefully so that the finished box turns out to be reliable and suitable for transporting bees.