Observation Hive...

[Beesilly]

Hello,
I have decided to build a Observation hive! I think I'm going to simplify the OB hive even more. I have a bunch of 10 gallon tanks lying around the house. One is smashed through on the side, from when I tripped and my hand litteraly smashed right through the tank. Thankfully, and miricously I didn't even get a scratch on my hand!
Anyways. I removed the rest of the pieces of glass from the one smashed side, and am going to replace it with a piece of wood, that has a hole in it for the entrence tube.
And i am going to use 17 inch long top bars. With 1-3/8'' wide top bars, I could fit 7 bars. I am going to use top bars too, no frames. The top bars are the same measurements as the bars in my new TBH. This is so i can give the TBH a frame of brood in case the OB hive gets crowded. Or the other way around. Do you think this would work?  Or am I getting overexcited with OB hives? :-D ;) :lol: :roll:   
For the starter strips, I will have to continue to look for a good way to make one. I am liking the triangle starter strip, from Michel Bush's website.  I am still thinking about what to do to feed the hive. I like the inverted far idea. Any suggestions or advice on this will be greatly appretiated!
Thank you!
Beesilly

P.S.- would a 2 pound package be enough for them to build up well in a 7 deep frame OB hive?

[Brian D. Bray]

I am going to use top bars too, no frames. The top bars are the same measurements as the bars in my new TBH. This is so i can give the TBH a frame of brood in case the OB hive gets crowded. Or the other way around. Do you think this would work?  Or am I getting overexcited with OB hives?

Management of on OB hive requires a slightly different tact.  Without frames I would expect that all of the bars are going to be connected to the others eventually by the comb built in between.  The bottom bar 3/8 above the next top bar is to give and ending point and the bee space usually keeps the bees from building comb between the bottom bar and the lower top bar.

P.S.- would a 2 pound package be enough for them to build up well in a 7 deep frame OB hive?

2 lbs will fill the OB hive, mmeaning I wouldn't expect it to ever get much larger than that.

[Jerrymac]

I think he is describing a glass TBH sort of thing. There will only be the top row of top bars.

Most OB hives are made only one frame wide so one can see both sides of the comb and actually see what is going on. With several frames deep you might not ever see what the queen and brood nest are doing unless you go into it.