Flow Hive update (I know, this topic has been beat to death)

SerenityApiaries · May 28, 2016, 05:09:20 PM

Time has passed since the Flow Hive came to the public eye and exceeded expectations in their public fundraising campaign. I have reviewed pro's and con's of the concept, listened to people's criticism of the hive and kept an open mind to its applications and the concerns expressed. With Cedar and Stu recently winning an award, it has once again sparked some debate on a FB group I'm admin of between those who vehemently oppose its use and those who are optimistic to its applications or recently bought it.
Beekeepers in our region, the Pacific NW USA, who ordered it have received their hives but have not been able to see them function yet. I'm curious to hear from people in other regions who have used It. Pro's and con's after having used it. This information I gather will be used to provide some details to members of my group.
Thanks in advance.

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sc-bee · May 28, 2016, 06:01:44 PM

Since the flow hive started such a controversy in main stream beekeeping forum, they started their own forum. That is where I would look...

PhilK · May 29, 2016, 08:28:58 PM

It drives me nuts that people are opposed to the Flow Hive, many times for seemingly no other reason that it is new and people don't seem to like change. There were some concerns that the Flow Hive might cause people to jump into beekeeping without the necessary knowledge/experience but all beginners are beginners and most will do some reading I think. The Flow website has great information to teach people how to properly keep bees with their Flow Hives. More bees can only be a good thing for the planet. I wonder if Langstroth got the same backlash for his radical new design?

I don't have one myself, but my mates dad has one and I was there when he installed the super (easy as any other super) and did a check. What he found was that about 6 weeks or so the bees hadn't touched a single flow frame, but their brood box was packed with honey laden burr comb and a few frames of pure honey. He rectified it by putting the honey frames up into the super to draw the bees up, but hasn't checked since.

I gather it's a common thing for the bees to not accept the Flow frames - have seen that painting melted wax onto them can help get them started

Playapixie · May 29, 2016, 09:06:58 PM

I'm curious, too. I wanted to try a few flow frames but they only make them in deep size, and I have all mediums (and would definitely not want to lift a deep box full of honey for inspections.)

Dawn Bustanoby
Seattle, WA
http://www.playapixie.org

SerenityApiaries · May 30, 2016, 02:15:16 AM

As with any method people have their opinions. I want to hear actual results from people who have used it so I can take the info back to the members of my group because there are those that are curious about it and those the practically spit demon fire when they speak of it. Lol. I didn't care for it while it was being advertised but that's because every friend I had on FB posted it to my wall asking if I'd seen it yet. But since their ad campaign is over and people have received them I am intrigued.

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SerenityApiaries · May 30, 2016, 02:18:14 AM

Btw Dawn, if you're on FB the group I'm referring is facebook.com/groups/WestCoastBeekeepers since you're in Seattle.

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Acebird · May 30, 2016, 09:23:33 AM

Quote from: PhilK on May 29, 2016, 08:28:58 PM
I gather it's a common thing for the bees to not accept the Flow frames - have seen that painting melted wax onto them can help get them started

This is something that I would expect because it happens with plastic foundation. What I would do if I ever get a chance is not put the flow frames on until the bees fill one super and then nadir with the flow frames. I know, when you buy a hive it doesn't come with another super. When you buy a kit it doesn't come with enough supers either.