What Beehive Should I Get? Buying A Bee Hive!
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- čas přidán 11. 12. 2021
- In this video we take a look at what beehive should you buy. When your starting off on your beekeeping journey it can be extremely confusing on deciding what beehive you should buy.
There is a massive choice of different hives out there to chose from National, Langstroth, Dadant, Long hives, Skeps...... The list is endless!
In this video we talk about key factors that you need to think about before buying your first hive and start beekeeping.
Whether you're starting beekeeping as a hobby or a business this video is relevant to you.
If you would like to find out more about me you can visit my website on;
www.gwenyngruffydd.co.uk
Or find me on social media on @GwenynGruffydd
I'm in the UK and went with Langstroths. When I read of the shenanigans of brood and a half, double brood, under-supering, warm way:cold way, bottom bee space then I'm glad I didn't go with Nationals :-) And then there's frames - DN-what??? :-)
However, whatever you go for my advice is STANDARDISE. Choose one hive type and stick with it. It simplifies everything. Every brood frame fits in every brood box, every super frame fits in every super. Clearer boards fit every hive etc etc etc.
Wise words Ian. Thanks for commenting 😊👍🏻
My first bit of kit was four second hand wooden Langstroth hives. Super bargain. I then became a Langstroth person. I can’t have poly hives because of badgers.
In Ireland Nationals are the most popular. Some folk use Commercials. And we have a unique hive, the CDB hive, similar to the WBC. You also didn't address poly hives: if you have issues lifting full supers, the much lighter poly boxes make live much easier.
Hi Brendan that’s very true. I have a separate video on poly v wood 😊
czcams.com/video/TjgdVNtTkQI/video.html
🐝My first beehive was used but donated free to me! Then my first honeybees were a swarm I caught for free! That was 2 years ago now I have 12 hives!🍯🍯🍯
24 next year! 😄
Here is North Carolina, USA Asheville has two "e"s. The city is about 65 miles from my home.
That’s a different Asheville. The hoody is from a CZcams channel called Ashville 😊
@@gwenyngruffydd I see. Thanks for clearing that up.
Great information living in the USA we don’t see much of anything but Langstroth or top bar hives the big question would be 10 or 8 frame boxes. Again great information and I thank you for answering questions that will make all the difference
Hi Rick, I would be tempted with 10 frames. But the question is what’s more popular where you live 10 or 8?
Happy New Year Gruff, and thanks for the informative video, how about a video about different types of bees, as I'm very interested in getting some Welsh Black Bees?
Hi Mick,
And to you too! That’s a great request! Will do! 😊👍🏻
My take on it is 2 nationals at first to see if it's for you as a hobby. If you get into it look at long hives (national in the UK). The frame compatibility is most important. A primary reason is with the recent spate of hive theft long hives are almost impossible to move. A secondary reason is with the gales we've had recently it would take a tornado to knock it over. Thirdly you haven't got the problem of lifting heavy supers The negatives are the cost and if you want to move them for heather flows and the likes.
You could always buy a normal vertical hive for heather honey then add them back into the horizontal at the end of the season
Excellent points! 👍🏻
my situation is that i have back and neck issues, i also don't have a great deal of room for centrafuge equipment ect, but 5-6 years ago the Flow hive came on the scene which has opened up the chance for me to get into beekeeping, so i have a pair in my garden.
How are you getting on with the flow hive?
@@gwenyngruffydd they were easy to assemble, very well packed excellent instructions, platform in the garden is ready just a few finnishing touches to do, i have a nuc reserved, and plan on splitting later this year to get the second hive going rather than buying 2 nucs, have been studying researching hard, loved your vids on afb efb, can't wait for april to get here. will send some updates on fb if you like.
That would be great! 😊👍🏻
Thanks Gwenyn, I completly agree with you that National is the simplest, cheapest and most available choice in the UK. I went down Langstroth as my granddad used these hives and this was my personal choice. I think the bees are happy with the hives and I had no issues. I completly agree that the choice is less in the UK ( especially with Brexit challenges) and also the full super can be very heavy. I find my self relatively fit but struggled flast year carrying a full ceder supers across the field. I think this can be improved by switching to Poly which I will test next year.
Hi Solonik, great points 😊👍🏻👍🏻
Where can I get a national hive at a fair price?
From me! 😃
@@gwenyngruffydd great is there a Web site or what is the story?
@@gwenyngruffydd checked the website it looks great. But I don't see any hives....
Thoughts on the Jumbo Langstroth? I currently own a few Langstroths and have been given the option of buying 3 jumbo Langstroth hives from someone at my association. One of these also has an active colony in.
Langstroth is a great hive. I’d be happy to go with the jumbo as long as your going to keep more jumbo. No point having just 3 jumbo and all the rest in medium.
Well you certainly helped me with the carbon foot print....i will be sure to buy all my hives out side of the us.
I enjoy bee keeping, and ive kept bees most of my life with about
400 hives not counting nucs..i think when some one brings political view points it kind of takes something away so ive always wanted to try a few poly hives .
I'v read about a few across the pond....ill make sure the come by air and I'll wait for them while im smoking my cigar and riding around in my big flat bed hive hauler....or do you movie you hives with a wheel barrel...just asking
Hi,
We have a few poly hives ourselves probably in the region of 100 poly nucs + poly hives.
Their good hives.
No political views from me just sharing a point which is very important to a lot of people and thought it was worth mentioning.
MY rule of thumb: If you want to know what style of hive to use, look at what the commercial beekeepers in your area are using. They use what works, not what the current fad is.
Great advice 👍🏻
They use what works for commercial beekeeping, not backyard beekeeping.
@@ing5088 There is nothing that can be done with any other hive design that can't also be done with what the commercial beekeepers use -- usually better. In my part of the world, that's the Langstroth.
There is no magic hive design that will keep bees heathy and productive whether for commercial or for hobby beekeeping. So, use a hive design that's easy and efficient for the beekeeper to learn and use. The commercial guys and gals have it figured out.
Going cheap is not always the best option.
Watched another beekeepers video where they went for 14x12 instead of National to save on buying two national brood boxes, now decided it wasn the best descision as the cost of 14x12 frames and foundation made it more expensive
That’s very very true!
And the frames are so heavy when you’re inspecting your hives!! My wrists ache after inspecting only a few 🙁😳 and goodness knows whether I’d be able to pick a brood box up 😳 🇬🇧
Fair point 👍🏻
When I started off beekeeping; I was told to only use the BS National hive. And to only use black bees. The only trouble is, I don’t like the Irish black bee and the National is to small. Most commercial beekeepers I know all use Langstroth.
With over 70 hives it’s to costly to now move to the langstroth but the cost of getting Uk hives in are getting very expensive also. Good advice given but people to need to talk to a few beekeepers that use different hive style and the type of bees and we’re there planning to go with their beekeeping adventures.
👍🏻👍🏻
What would ya recommend
I'm in cavan and hoping to expand to 30 hives this year and probably the same again in nucs
Is Cavan in Ireland?
@@gwenyngruffydd yes along the border
WHICH beehive.
What is your connection to Asheville?
Hi, no connection just a big fan of his CZcams channel.
I can’t buy his stone or concrete in Wales so wanted to support him by buying a hoody!
@@gwenyngruffydd I live in Asheville North Carolina.
We’re talking about different Asheville’s!
How is Asheville for Beekeeing? What’s the weather like there?
@@gwenyngruffydd haha! Yes, apparently we are! Asheville is in the Appalachian mountains. There is definitely beekeeping going on here but I don't know too much about it other than Asheville and the surrounding towns sell lots of honey!
It sounds like a beautiful place! And no doubt great for honey production!
+ it the coolest name!
Out of interest how did you end up watching a Beekeeing video if your not a beekeeper?
Mostly Nationals in Ireland too. Just saying.
😊
I thought langstroth was the most popular in Ireland
Probably a good reason why no other countries use the national hive 🤣
That’s a fair point!! 😂
@@gwenyngruffydd your summary at the end was spot on 👍👌
Thanks 😊
You import hives from Greece by the wagon load and then ship them all over the UK. That's not particularly looking after your carbon footprint is it?
Did you write that comment on a phone/computer that was made on the other side of the world (China)?
You're the one talking in this video about buying from your own country to look after your carbon footprint but now ship in from Greece. My phone is made in China but I've not promoted buying from the UK. You've also said in this video if you're in the UK you're better off buying national hives but you sell langstroth. I'm just really confused?
Two massive contradictions in the same video.
I do love your work and get a lot of value out of what you do but it's confusing when you say one thing but do something else.
@stewillo86 that’s a fair comment.
The video is 3 years old. The flow hive has entered the market since and changed a lot of new beekeepers entering the market.
Langstroth is becoming more mainstream that’s to others not just me bringing them to market.
The cost of living crisis has made all hives more expensive but langstroth seem to be at a better price point now.
Most beekeepers I would still say national is the better option.
This video was accurate for my opinion 3 years ago.
Maybe I should make a new one explaining how the market has changed.
Also to note…I sell a lot of National hives kit too
Superb reply Gruff. Getting a new video out for me personally would be a game changer.
You're answering genuine questions that I have as I've been looking into beekeeping for a little over a year now and done my beginner beekeeping course last month which I loved. My plan this year is to get my hives and equipment ready and to introduce the bees next year. Please don't think I'm being an arse with my comments, I want to make sure I make the right decision when I purchase my hives because I've only got one chance to get it right.
Business owners and keepers like you are helping people like me to make a more informed decision.
In my head I'm torn between the Anel and the Abelo langstroth hives (possibly one of each!) or 14x12 nationals?
Langstroth seems better to me but nationals appear to be the UK's choice.
Flowhives definitely don't tick my boxes, I want to be responsible throughout the whole process.
I've watched dozens of your videos, some of them several times over, that's how I came to comment on here because the newer content contradicts the older content but that's to be expected in the industry you're in as your business grows.
Great work mate, you inspire me in what you do.