Happy New Year Mr.Rich, I see that your bees are getting a bit hot to work with them! I opened one of my hives yesterday and to my surprise not even one sting! 2 weeks ago I had no brood at all, now I have 5 full frames of all stages from eggs to capped. Thank you for the great informative videos. By the way it’s official, I became a member of the Palm Beach Beekeeping Association. Looking forward to learning more about this hobby.
His presentation was cut a bit short because the main gate was closing at 8:30pm. I did see the lady from England, I think her name is Clair!!! They mentioned that Mr. Ed (Jeff H.) is coming soon as the speaker of the meeting. I’m volunteering to be at the fair grounds at least a couple of days. It was great to finally meet you in person.
I won't make my final assessment until May. In one sense it is nay, but only because after 20 years, Poppleton said that if he started over, he would make the frames about an inch wider, but the same depth, which happens to be precisely the width of a Layens frame, so cutting Layens frames down to 12 inches and using them in a Layens hive may be viable in South Florida, but only if they fill these frames out all the way this spring. If they swarm instead of expanding the comb, then I will stand by my dislike of of Langstoth deeps and stick with my medium frames. Now, my assessment of the asymmetrical American Frame is that it is a perfectly viable frame, and easy to handle, and if modified with longer arms like the British Standard and used in a box set up like the British Standard it might even be an outstanding frame. But I have no intention of creating that particular Frankenframe at this point. Keep in mind that Poppleton was using Italian Queens, and I am using Scutellata mutts which have a much stronger swarm impulse to help deal with Varroa, so I may be comparing apples to bitter oranges. If I bought pure stock queens, my results may be quite different. Time will tell.
@@southflbeekeepingwithrich I think I've read the same article. Poppleton said that if he were to start over, he probably would have gone with a Langstroth "Jumbo" frame, instead of the smaller "American" frames that he had been using. The Jumbo was basically just an extra deep Langstroth frame with a depth of 11.25", versus 9.125" for a standard Langstroth deep. They were still available commercially until about the late 1970s.
Actually, he staunchly maintained that he did not prefer the Langstroth frame dimensions until the year that he retired and sold his queen rearing operation to Dadant, the company that held the patent on the Langstroth frame and published the Gleanings in Bee Culture Magazine. When he made the start over comments he specified a one inch wider frame still one foot deep. No where near a Langstroth frame. BTW in England you can still but the Jumbo under the heading Dadant Langstroth frame.
Poppleton said many times in many different journals that he preferred the long hive (new idea hive) over the vertical Langstroth, having tested them both in the same location on numerous occasions, and only said that he would change from the 12x12 American frame to an inch wider frame the same depth if he had it all to do again.
I misspoke, the manual was from Uganda. Don't know if this will work but lets try. Nope, the manual was the Code of Apiary Management, Uganda. I found it while doing an internet archive search for Apiary Management. I just tried to copy/paste the pdf but it would not let me. There is no link since it was inside the archive. Do an Internet Archive search for Code of Apiary Management. Should be able to find it.
Rich, would you please define “a frame of bees”. I feel stupid for asking. I’ve heard the term and know it’s about population. Is it referring to enough bees to cover one side of one frame? Or both sides of one frame? Also is it referring to enough bees to stand shoulder to shoulder and cover 100% of the comb ( 1 side or 2)? Or is it 90% thanks.
I think you have clearly defined that it is a fairly nebulous term. For me it is bees covering both sides of the frame, hence I might say that there are three and a half frames of bees in December. I would consider that 75 to 80% coverage was sufficient, but I would throw one more variable in there. I would want to see resources in the frame. Whether nectar, pollen or brood, or all three or any two. Now I have seen plenty of videos where the Keeper was satisfied with something closer to 50% coverage, but our Scutelatta mutts tend to cluster more thickly, so I would have to add that it could depend on the characteristics of the particular breed of bee. Hey, look how far I got before I said "well it depends"!!! I'm proud of myself.
These frames, asymmetrical 12inch by 12 inch American Frames from the 1870's are a full 1-3/8 wide but have a 2 inch by quarter inch cutout on each frame which were kept covered by small strips of thin wood and removed one at a time to access the expansion of the hive. I tried not covering them at first, but quickly found the value of doing so. These strips of aluminum that cover 4 frames at a time are just a cheap and convenient way to accomplish that.
Do you ever find cockroach damage or problems in any way? im in 9b fl. And find them often enough. im considering the mouse guard on my entrance discs. Any thoughts? Please and thank you, sir Are your s.h.b. thriving right now too?
I find cockroaches, mainly Palmetto bugs sometimes, usually in long hives, and mostly at the unoccupied end. Never noticed any real damage. mouse guards would only keep out the full size ones, maaaybee? but even they can get into pretty small areas. Using soil treatments keeps the beetles under control, check out my small hive beetle videos. If you are thoughtful about it, you can put cockroach traps around and under the hives. Use ones with openings too small for bees. Same goes for ant traps.
Oh yes, the state doesn't even call them African derived anymore, they just call them scutelatta hybrids. We select for gentleness and pinch spicy queens.
@@southflbeekeepingwithrich we had a bad experience with them once in the late 80s. One of my dad's hives got taken over and to call it a "hot hive" was an understatement to say the least. If you got anywhere near it, they'd all come boiling out and chase you down the road. I wonder now if requeening would have helped.
Narrower and not as deep. I plan on building a Layens Hive with 12 inch frames since Poppleton said he would use an inch wider frame and keep the same depth.
Happy New Year Mr.Rich, I see that your bees are getting a bit hot to work with them! I opened one of my hives yesterday and to my surprise not even one sting! 2 weeks ago I had no brood at all, now I have 5 full frames of all stages from eggs to capped. Thank you for the great informative videos. By the way it’s official, I became a member of the Palm Beach Beekeeping Association. Looking forward to learning more about this hobby.
Great, see you on January 9th at the Barn.
The barn!!! Can you elaborate more on the barn? On the 10th there is a meeting at the Pine Jog Environmental Center, I am planning to be there.
Check the website tomorrow. We will get it updated.
You too, we won't be going to Pine Jog tonight. We have seen the speaker on at least three occasions on this topic.
His presentation was cut a bit short because the main gate was closing at 8:30pm. I did see the lady from England, I think her name is Clair!!! They mentioned that Mr. Ed (Jeff H.) is coming soon as the speaker of the meeting. I’m volunteering to be at the fair grounds at least a couple of days. It was great to finally meet you in person.
You can get started on the new year? Amazing considering we have snow on the ground and it's not even in the 30's
That's why it is South Florida Beekeeping with Rich. Look at the comment above, no bees in November, 5 frames in December. On your mark, get set, GO!
@@southflbeekeepingwithrich You're lucky
Well, it has been in the mid 50's overnight for the last 3 days, but the bees are flying by 9am and bringing in resources.
Overall, what's been your impression of the Poppleton Hive compared to a conventional Langstroth? Yea or nay?
I won't make my final assessment until May. In one sense it is nay, but only because after 20 years, Poppleton said that if he started over, he would make the frames about an inch wider, but the same depth, which happens to be precisely the width of a Layens frame, so cutting Layens frames down to 12 inches and using them in a Layens hive may be viable in South Florida, but only if they fill these frames out all the way this spring.
If they swarm instead of expanding the comb, then I will stand by my dislike of of Langstoth deeps and stick with my medium frames. Now, my assessment of the asymmetrical American Frame is that it is a perfectly viable frame, and easy to handle, and if modified with longer arms like the British Standard and used in a box set up like the British Standard it might even be an outstanding frame. But I have no intention of creating that particular Frankenframe at this point.
Keep in mind that Poppleton was using Italian Queens, and I am using Scutellata mutts which have a much stronger swarm impulse to help deal with Varroa, so I may be comparing apples to bitter oranges. If I bought pure stock queens, my results may be quite different. Time will tell.
@@southflbeekeepingwithrich I think I've read the same article. Poppleton said that if he were to start over, he probably would have gone with a Langstroth "Jumbo" frame, instead of the smaller "American" frames that he had been using. The Jumbo was basically just an extra deep Langstroth frame with a depth of 11.25", versus 9.125" for a standard Langstroth deep. They were still available commercially until about the late 1970s.
Actually, he staunchly maintained that he did not prefer the Langstroth frame dimensions until the year that he retired and sold his queen rearing operation to Dadant, the company that held the patent on the Langstroth frame and published the Gleanings in Bee Culture Magazine. When he made the start over comments he specified a one inch wider frame still one foot deep. No where near a Langstroth frame. BTW in England you can still but the Jumbo under the heading Dadant Langstroth frame.
@@southflbeekeepingwithrich I may have misremembered it. It's been awhile since I read it.
Poppleton said many times in many different journals that he preferred the long hive (new idea hive) over the vertical Langstroth, having tested them both in the same location on numerous occasions, and only said that he would change from the 12x12 American frame to an inch wider frame the same depth if he had it all to do again.
Eloo I enjoy ur videos. I am from South Africa. Please tell me where I can find this manual on long hives from South? Africa
I misspoke, the manual was from Uganda. Don't know if this will work but lets try.
Nope, the manual was the Code of Apiary Management, Uganda. I found it while doing an internet archive search for Apiary Management. I just tried to copy/paste the pdf but it would not let me. There is no link since it was inside the archive. Do an Internet Archive search for Code of Apiary Management. Should be able to find it.
Rich, would you please define “a frame of bees”. I feel stupid for asking. I’ve heard the term and know it’s about population. Is it referring to enough bees to cover one side of one frame? Or both sides of one frame? Also is it referring to enough bees to stand shoulder to shoulder and cover 100% of the comb ( 1 side or 2)? Or is it 90% thanks.
Great question 😮
I think you have clearly defined that it is a fairly nebulous term. For me it is bees covering both sides of the frame, hence I might say that there are three and a half frames of bees in December. I would consider that 75 to 80% coverage was sufficient, but I would throw one more variable in there. I would want to see resources in the frame. Whether nectar, pollen or brood, or all three or any two. Now I have seen plenty of videos where the Keeper was satisfied with something closer to 50% coverage, but our Scutelatta mutts tend to cluster more thickly, so I would have to add that it could depend on the characteristics of the particular breed of bee. Hey, look how far I got before I said "well it depends"!!! I'm proud of myself.
what are the metal strips for [ ones down middle of hive]?
These frames, asymmetrical 12inch by 12 inch American Frames from the 1870's are a full 1-3/8 wide but have a 2 inch by quarter inch cutout on each frame which were kept covered by small strips of thin wood and removed one at a time to access the expansion of the hive. I tried not covering them at first, but quickly found the value of doing so. These strips of aluminum that cover 4 frames at a time are just a cheap and convenient way to accomplish that.
Do you ever find cockroach damage or problems in any way? im in 9b fl. And find them often enough. im considering the mouse guard on my entrance discs. Any thoughts? Please and thank you, sir
Are your s.h.b. thriving right now too?
I find cockroaches, mainly Palmetto bugs sometimes, usually in long hives, and mostly at the unoccupied end. Never noticed any real damage. mouse guards would only keep out the full size ones, maaaybee? but even they can get into pretty small areas. Using soil treatments keeps the beetles under control, check out my small hive beetle videos. If you are thoughtful about it, you can put cockroach traps around and under the hives. Use ones with openings too small for bees. Same goes for ant traps.
By "scutellata mutts," do you mean Africanized bees?
Oh yes, the state doesn't even call them African derived anymore, they just call them scutelatta hybrids. We select for gentleness and pinch spicy queens.
@@southflbeekeepingwithrich we had a bad experience with them once in the late 80s. One of my dad's hives got taken over and to call it a "hot hive" was an understatement to say the least. If you got anywhere near it, they'd all come boiling out and chase you down the road. I wonder now if requeening would have helped.
Probably so, but finding the queen might have been more than you would have wanted to handle.
Looks like a layens hive...
Narrower and not as deep. I plan on building a Layens Hive with 12 inch frames since Poppleton said he would use an inch wider frame and keep the same depth.