Horizontal Lang question for MB

[BeeV]

A couple of questions about a horizontal Lang setup. When using frames, do you still need to use a follower like you do with a TBH? What kind of bottom board do you use, is it like a conventional BB only longer? Also, from pics, I am guessing that when adding supers you just set the regular boxes on top then slide a migratory right up against it. Correct? Thanks, Keith 

[caticind]

I'm not MB, of course, but I also use a long hive (horizontal lang).  Here's my $0.02.

Yes, use a follower.  You always need to reduce the amount of empty space left to the bees. 

I don't use a bottom board at all, instead I just have #8 hardware cloth stapled to the bottom.  The hive is elevated on two concrete blocks but the screen is open to the ground and the entrance is via drilled holes in the front of the hive (or top entrance via migratories).  I find this helps with varroa (when they drop out they drop aaaaall the way out), and I can get away with it because we have very mild winters.  You could build a standard bottom board if you wanted.

You're right about supers, but make sure you have calculated the length of your hive correctly!  If you're building it by assembling Lang boxes together, no problem. But if you are building from scratch make sure the length is a whole multiple of the width of the tops/supers you are using.  Otherwise you may find yourself needing 2.5 tops to cover and having to fill the gap with plywood (works but doesn't look so stylish).

[BeeV]

Thanks for your reply Caticind. Do you use an inner cover?

[caticind]

No, just migratory tops (my hives are about 4' long and require 3 migratory tops each).  Using migratory tops there is no need nor room for an inner cover. 

[Michael Bush]

I've never used a follower but they are nice if you have them.  You can.

[FRAMEshift]

I've never used a follower but they are nice if you have them.  You can.

So do you fill the the entire hive with empty foundationless frames?  Or leave empty space?

[Michael Bush]

>So do you fill the the entire hive with empty foundationless frames?  Or leave empty space?

ALWAYS fill a hive with frames (or with a TBH bars).  NEVER leave an empty space with no frames.  Even if you use a follower.  They sometimes get past it.

I have never built a follower for my TBHs and have never used one, but I think they would be nice.  I just haven't had the time to make them and they do fine without them.  They would probably do better with them because of the limited space to have to heat and because the follower is a wall that helps act as a guide to keep them from doing wild comb.  But usually they draw nice comb if you have good guides and you don't let them get off on the wrong foot by hanging the queen cage...