Hi Will, I was thinking I could use the crown board as a floor, so good to
know about the solid floor at Thorne. I would do the same as you have on the
top with insulation, much like a golden hive.
On Paul's comment about size, I'll see how the brood box compares in volume to
the golden hive, which is roomy.
________________________________
From: oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf
of Will H <whanrott@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 7:07:11 PM
To: oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [oxnatbees] Re: Converting a National to a Natural?
Hi Kerry,
I use the extra deep Commercial brood boxes. They're almost the same dimensions
as the Nationals but there are a few small dimensional differences. The
National and Commercial boxes can be used together because the important
dimensions (bee space; horizontal length and width) are the same. Thorne sell
solid floors for Commerical
hives<https://www.thorne.co.uk/index.php?route=product%2Fsearch&filter_name=commercial+solid+floor>.
Just put the entrance block in so that it seals the exit.
I haven't drilled these holes in my hives but I'd be interested to find out how
you get on. Commercial hives have runners so the frames face only one way, so
you'll need to choose between 'warm way' and 'cold way' before you drill.
I don't know about a solid crown board, but I used a regular board with a
feeder eke<https://www.thorne.co.uk/national-feeder-eke> on the top. I stapled
hessian into the eke to create a loose floor. It then it sits on top of the
crown board, filled with insulation just like a Warre. I did less well with
external insulation, but that's another topic.
Will
________________________________
From: oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf
of Kerry Dawson <kerrydawson99@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: 07 April 2021 17:59
To: oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [oxnatbees] Converting a National to a Natural?
Hi Everyone,
I have a TBH and a Golden hive and I am toying with the ideal of getting an
extra-deep National brood box and an extra-shallow super, supplied by Heather
Bell Bees in Cornwall, where I purchased my TBH. I plan to add two entrance
holes to the side of the brood box (not unlike my TBH and GH). I like the idea
of having standard size parts, such as the frames, easily available to replace
and this company offers the very shallow super for taking small amounts of
honey.
I have asked Heather Bell if they supply solid floors, without mesh – they
don’t. So, I asked this question and wondered what the group thought about the
reply:
Q: I’m planning to add entrance holes into the side of the brood box (bit like
your TBH which I already have) so for the floor maybe the thick crown board
without a central hole would work instead. Are you able to supply without a
hole?
A: Although colonies will use an additional upper entrance as you describe, it
must be an additional entrance. A bottom entrance is necessary so bees can
remove dead bees easily and a solid floor is just a bad idea; reducing
ventilation, encouraging damp, increasing Varroa build up. That's why we don't
use or supply them.
From my experience (only 2 years), my TBH with holes and my GH with holes have
never had a build up of dead bees. In the case of the TBH there is a horrible
build up of debris beneath the mesh floor, which the bees can’t clean up and so
they rely on me to do it causing more disturbance than I prefer (I plan to get
rid of this just as soon as I am able).
Has anyone done this conversion before and is a bad idea? Eric, I think you
might have?
Kerry
