Lang observation super question

[malabarchillin]

I have seen pics of top bar hives with rectangular observation windows and other pics of large
ob hives. I have never seen a Lang super with a window on the side? Is there a reason ? I would not
stack too many supers on it that it would be too weak. Any stories and or pics of a med or deep super
with a window in it.
Thanks
Mike

[Understudy]

You mean like this:
http://www.brendhanhorne.com/coppermine_dir/thumbnails.php?album=67

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Scadsobees]

You can do this, but really you will only end up seeing the outsides or ends of the combs.  The bees typically store honey on the outside.

So it is very interesting to see their progress building combs from scratch, but once they are drawn, it is neat but not much changes.  Brendan's shows a lot but is definately not the normal, especially considering the price of plexi... and you can't watch the brood.

When the bees raise brood, they will mostly cover it with their bodies, and even with a single frame wide observation hive it can be difficult to observe.  If you want to see detail brood nest interaction, a single frame wide is best.

There are some really really interesting observation hives like this though, including bells,  clear top bar hives and gums with windows.

http://outdoorplace.org/beekeeping/natural.htm
http://www2.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/obshiv.htm

Rick

[malabarchillin]

Brendhan,
Is that a ob or Solar bee cooker/oven :)
Thanks for posting the links.
Mike

[Understudy]

I have cardboard covers I put on it when I am not looking in. So no cooking.

Scadsobees is correct that the center of the hive is difficult to observe and the price is very high. It does however work nicely to watch an entire colony.

Also you can put this inside with out the covers and place tubes that lead to the outside.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Michael Bush]

Like this?
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/LangDeepObservation.jpg

The frames tend to block your view, but with top bars they are fun to watch.

http://www.bushfarms.com/images/BeesOnTopBars.jpg