I have seen this thread pop up to the top of the list several times and I have wanted to jump in and post this link (but I was unable to find it), well finally, here it is: http://www.wiltshirebeekeepers.org.uk/Downloads/BeeLines%20April%202007.pdf
scroll down to page 7, you will see some pretty cool combined tbh mating nucs. now these I would certainly call a mating manor!
Very interesting. Looks a bit complicated with all those internal hoses and such. Looks like something from outer space with all those cans and soda bottles on it.
I did learn something though -
use of Carniolan bees which are well known for their ability for precise orientation. So I guess they are only good for rearing Carniolans :?
how do you like the ply inner covers as opposed to other options- how easy is it to inspect a "middle" colony? very good idea it seems I tried using various "cloth"/ grain bag type inner covers stapled to dividers and didn't like result.
I like them a lot, They are rigid enough that they don't sag or warp. The middle ones easily pry up with the hive tool and all the propolis sticks to the wood and not the coroplast, so once off, a quick scrap and they can go back on. I tried coroplast covers, but they tend to warp and don't seal well with the outer cover removed, so you get bees escaping from previous inspected units while your going through the adjacent units. I used 3/4" ply scraps from building the boxes, thinner stuff would work equally as well.
with this setup do you consider telescoping tops necessary or could a slightly larger (say 2" overhang) ply top, weighed down work?
Telescoping cover are by no means necessary. I've used sheets of coroplast with a overhang with to problem.
is your (outer) top made of the luan ? or do you have bottoms on the boxes? can't see anywhere else it is used in your design.
Yes the top covers and bottoms are Luan.
what is it that makes one coroplast better than another? do you have a favorite? :-D
It all seems to be pretty much the same around here. The FREE ones are my favorite ;) Especially the ones that only have printing on one side ;)
(ie can't horizontal be turned 90 degrees to become "vertical coroplast"
Yes, but you must turn it BEFORE cutting it to size :-P (unless you are cutting squares, but that doesn't seem to happen with Langstroth hives)