CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to make beehives with China's top beekeeping technology? (What is the best beehive for raising Chinese bees)

1. How to make beehives with China's top beekeeping technology?

1. Draw the design drawings

Whether the design drawings are needed varies from person to person. Some rural carpenters are already familiar with the technology of making beehives, so there is no need to draw the design drawings. However, for novice carpenters or those who make beehives by themselves, this is very necessary. The most commonly used beehives are the 10-frame standard beehives of Chinese bees. The dimensions of the box body, box bottom, nest frame, sub-cover, box cover, partition, and nest door block that make up the beehive must be clearly marked on the drawings, especially the dimensions of the box body and nest frame must be coordinated, otherwise there will be a situation where they cannot be put in.

How to make a beehive in 4 simple steps. A good beehive is the guarantee for raising bees.

2. Choose the right materials

The main material for beehives is wood. The principle of selecting wood is to choose wood that is strong, durable, light, and not prone to deformation and cracks. For example, Paulownia is the first choice in the north, and fir is the first choice in the south. Before making beehives, the selected wood should be fully air-dried. Do not use newly felled wood, otherwise the formed beehive will deform and loosen over time.

How to make a beehive in 4 simple steps. A good beehive is the guarantee for raising bees.

3. Made into a standard box

Although it is recommended to use a whole piece of wood to make the four sides of the box body, which has a good effect of heat preservation and rainproof, in actual production, large wood is still in short supply. Basically, it is made of several pieces of wood. The joints need to be treated tightly with glue and inner pliers to ensure that there are no gaps. The connection of the four sides of the box body can be made of mortise and tenon structure sets or nailed with nails to ensure a tight fit. The contact between the bottom of the box and the four sides also needs to be handled well without gaps. The box cover should be made higher in the middle and lower around to facilitate drainage. The entire beehive should be made into a standard, strong and tight beehive.

How to make a beehive in 4 simple steps. A good beehive is the guarantee for raising bees.

4. Remove odor from the box

After a new beehive is built, you cannot rush to put bees in it. You need to disinfect the box as a whole, then dry it in the sun for a few days. After it is dried, apply putty powder on the joints of the box and the holes in the wooden board, and then brush it with a layer of white paint after it is smoothed. This will make it durable and heat-insulating. If there is a peculiar smell in the box after the paint is dry, you need to use wormwood or old beehives to fumigate the inside of the box, which can effectively eliminate the peculiar smell in the box.

2. What size beehive is best for raising bees?

For beekeeping, it is generally best to use a box of 25x25x10 cm.

At present, the popular lattice boxes on the market are 25x25x10 in length, width and height per layer, with a total of 5 layers and a total height of 50 cm. However, it is best to determine the size according to the location. For example, it is recommended to have an inner space of 30 cm in length and width in the north of the Yangtze River, and 25 cm in length and width in the south of the Yangtze River. If it is a strong group, the inner space can be increased to 35 cm.

3. What kind of wood are beehives made of?

Many types of wood can be used to make beekeeping boxes, including waste plywood used in the construction industry.

Currently, the more mainstream beehive material is fir board. The biggest advantage of fir wood is its light weight and corrosion resistance, and the board is easy to remove odors. Some beekeepers also use mother boards to make cement beehives. The advantage is that they can be buried in the earth, blending with nature, and have a longer service life.