Indoor Beekeeping?

[Danarchy]

I live in a large old commercial building, and was wondering if anyone kept bee's inside? Like a room size observation hive, climate controlled, and an entrance/exit tube where they could come and go. Double doors like a vestabule to keep them in the room and out of our living area. Just a Crazy thought I would like to see what people have to say about it. -Thanks

[AllenF]

Bees in an observation hive would work.   But they would have to come and go through a pipe to the outside.    Bee hive inside a building where they could fly around, no.    Bee hives in greenhouses do not work.   Bees would get confused by the windows and all die.

[Danarchy]

I was thinking more of a bee room that had access to outside...just a crazy thought. I don't really have a yard and I think the roof would be too hot in the Texas summers.

[hankdog1]

Yes if they could get outside it would work but then you would have to take them outside to add supers and stuff don't want them flying around the building with no way to get home.  Have you considered finding a bee yard out a little in the country?  Most farmers don't mind you keeping bees on their place.

[Danarchy]

I am Brand-New to Beekeeping, and I am interning with a beekeeper out in the country. He had back surgery and advertised for a helper, because he couldn't do it all. I was just wondering how I could have bee's where I live. I was thinking about a 25'x25' dedicated room on the second floor with hives in the room and access to outside through tubes.(or the windows)
I have alot of unused space, but like I said"no yard". This was just an idea,I still need to learn alot more about bees.

[Michael Bush]

Bees flying in a room don't look for the way out, their instincts lead them to light, not exit, so they usually bang their heads against the glass of whatever window until they die.  Honey bees do not do well in greenhouses or any other indoor place.  They way they navigate and their instincts make it not work.

[Danarchy]

Thanks! I just had to ask.

[forrestcav]

it kinda sounds like some of the european bee houses. where the front of the hive is open to the outside, but the hive are accessable from the inside for the beekeeper. The bees don't really have free rein of the room, but your able to work under cover.

[oliver]

WE have 1 hive in a building as an experiment. It is placed under a window that can be opened, the other windows are covered, no light,.. With the close window open when working on the hive, they seem to all go out and back in the hive entrance below,, so far anyway,, time will tell if this works.. have a good day..dl

[Danarchy]

apiculture.ncf.ca/Documents/BeeHouse.JPG

this is kinda what I was thinking about, mainly due to the extreme heat in the summer(Texas)
Now I am thinking a covered deck on the roof? Man-made shade and cut down on the wind some?

[Danarchy]

need to add http://

[forrestcav]

can you make that a true link?

[Danarchy]

I wish I could, but I have not been a member long enough to be trusted to post a link. Go Figure?

[Michael Bush]

They do better in the sun.

[FRAMEshift]

Bees in an observation hive would work.   But they would have to come and go through a pipe to the outside.    Bee hive inside a building where they could fly around, no.    Bee hives in greenhouses do not work.   Bees would get confused by the windows and all die.

That's interesting.  You would think that an observation hive is the same thing as a room with windows.  There is light coming into a space but that light does not mark the exit.  Yet, they still manage to use the exit tube, which is dark.

[Michael Bush]

The scale of distance is quite different.  And they ofte get crazy trying to get through the glass instead of going out the entrance.  But random chance says they may find their way out.

[glenn c hile]

There is a ~100 year old house here that has a hive built into the attic.  It is similar to a top bar hive with an entrance to the outside.  Bees do no have access to the attic but hive maintenance can be done as needed.  It has been abandoned for a number of years and is no longer in use.  Been meaning to get over and take some photos just low on the priority list.  Old timers say the original owner kept bees successfully in it.

[Tommyt]

Here is the picture,I know a man in Florida that has a Bee shed set up
very similar.

I say you can do it if you mimic this and when you inspect
be sure you have a window with the top portion open for escape


picture from here
http://apiculture.ncf.ca/Documents/


Tommyt

[forrestcav]

that's what I was thinking of there. Protects the hives and the beek from the weather.

[Tommyt]

Here is another found in a search on Google for "Slovenian AZ Beehive"



Danarchy
I sent you a PM
So if you see a pop up that is what it should be