Dadant observation hive

[oldenglish]

I just picked up a brand new dadant two frame observation hive dirt cheap. If I set this up with an exterior entrance could I keep bees in it year round or is it too small and only for demonstrations and displays ?

[BjornBee]

You can keep an O.H. going all year. It helps to plan on perhaps changing a frame out if need. And O.H's will swarm just like a full size hive.

The ability to see things in an O.H. is well worth it. You wil see things you never would see in a full hive.

[rdy-b]

That is the one i market with and it is a little small to be self sufficient year round -but i need a small one to cary around so it suits my needs


http://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000093lu9.jpg
 
  RDY-B

[Michael Bush]

I find three mediums or four deeps can be kept all year round but it's still a tricky proposition.  Less is a trickier proposition.  But it's worth a try.  It will tweak your beekeeping skills...

[Bobb]

Maybe this is a silly question, but I'm new; What happens when it's kept inside and warm, 70F, but it's
 -5F outside. Won't the bees try to fly and freeze?

[Brian D. Bray]

Maybe this is a silly question, but I'm new; What happens when it's kept inside and warm, 70F, but it's
 -5F outside. Won't the bees try to fly and freeze?

No, they go to the door and stick a finger in the air and if it develops frost on it they don't fly.   

Regardless of the temperature inside the hive whether the bees chose to fly or not is dependent upon the weather outside the hive.  I've  found that they will occassionally fly in temps in the mid-30s and overcast with a slight wind.  Lower than that or more wind and they stay home.  As for the hive itself, it is the temp of the air around the cluster or brood nest that determines whether they remain in cluster or break it up.  That means that if the internal temp of the ambient air within the hive is in the mid 70's the bees most likely will not be a cluster but whether or not they fly is still up to outside conditions.

[Bobb]

Thank you Brian.
Bobb

[gmcharlie]

does a observation hive make a good nuc box?   seems to me its about right for starting a colony to move out as it fills up???

[Brian D. Bray]

does a observation hive make a good nuc box?   seems to me its about right for starting a colony to move out as it fills up???

A 3 or 4 frame OB hive would work as a nuc hive.  It could also be moved from the OB unit into an actual nuc for wintering if need be.