Hive Shape

[hellbenthoneybee]

What is the differance between the square shaped hives and the dome shaped ones.  Where can you get the dome ones?

[MrILoveTheAnts]

The dome hive I believe is just a wicker basket and pretty hard to harvest from without destroying the hive.

[Robo]

Skeps (dome shape) are illegal is most, if not all, states.  Hives must have removable frames for inspection.

[hellbenthoneybee]

The dome ones seem to be the hive of illustration what is the history on that, anyone know?

[DennisB]

I think that you see most illustrations showing them is because they are the "romantic" ideal home for bees. Boxes just  aren't as visual as the skep with some bees floating in the air around it. They have been around in some form or another for a few thousand years. There was a posting sometime last fall of the excavations in the mideast (I think Israel) of a an apiary that was a couple of thousand years old. They also used ceramic domes and other shapes. Hope this helps understand a bit.

DennisB

[Ericnwicklow]

Over here in ireland we still see the occasional Skep at some apiarys,these are made from straw though not wicker .
The skep is harvested in the autumn but usually the queen and bees would be lost unless a bit of work was done to hive them before the skep was removed ,when removing the comb brood eggs and honey are all taken at the same time and there is no way of saving the brood and eggs as far as i understand,but the skep is good to look at i must agree if not practical.for looking after.
Very useful for collecting swarms though.

 

[hellbenthoneybee]

Over here in ireland we still see the occasional Skep at some apiarys,these are made from straw though not wicker .
The skep is harvested in the autumn but usually the queen and bees would be lost unless a bit of work was done to hive them before the skep was removed ,when removing the comb brood eggs and honey are all taken at the same time and there is no way of saving the brood and eggs as far as i understand,but the skep is good to look at i must agree if not practical.for looking after.
Very useful for collecting swarms though.

 

Sad that they are not more practical. I do enjoy the shape more than the box, but that is the american way...  function without form.. :(

[sc-bee]

I'm going out on a limb so to speak!!!! But I belive what I was told is the skep is illegal because of not being able to treat properly and the likelyhood of spread of disesase due to not treating because of difficulty of inspection of the skep.
Of course ideas of treatment are now turning around a almost complete 180 degrees!!!

The skep is however a more Romantic look  :-*. Especially for the ladies!!!

[wtiger]

I know if it is a trade off as it is in this case I'd take function over form any day.  I prefer things that work as intended with the least amount of effort.  If you really want form in a hive you can get pretty creative with paint if you like.  :)

[reinbeau]

Skeps can't hold removable frames, that's why they're illegal.  They aren't 'romantic', they were what was used before the hive we all are familiar with was invented - among other shapes.  You can still buy them, many keep them in their herb gardens, not for hives, but for decoration.

[KONASDAD]

you also had to destroy the hive when harvesting. They are illegal here b/c of what reinbeo said. No way to inspect a hive w/o movabvle frames. Also, its not the least bit manipulable. You would be almost impossible to requeen(release her in front and hope for best), use IPM(sugar shakes for ex.) medicate, inspect the brood area(no fun w/ that one!) No landing board to stare at for endless hours. No washboarding.(my favorite). Sometimes things go by the way side for a reason.

[CBEE]

Along with some of the other reasons mentioned I have also read one other reason was the fire hazzard due to being made of straw. Apparently a hot smoker and straw don't mix very well.

[JP]

I'm going out on a limb so to speak!!!! But I belive what I was told is the skep is illegal because of not being able to treat properly and the likelyhood of spread of disesase due to not treating because of difficulty of inspection of the skep.
Of course ideas of treatment are now turning around a almost complete 180 degrees!!!

The skep is however a more Romantic look  :-*. Especially for the ladies!!!

Rob stated this 5 posts up.

...JP

[JP]

Over here in ireland we still see the occasional Skep at some apiarys,these are made from straw though not wicker .
The skep is harvested in the autumn but usually the queen and bees would be lost unless a bit of work was done to hive them before the skep was removed ,when removing the comb brood eggs and honey are all taken at the same time and there is no way of saving the brood and eggs as far as i understand,but the skep is good to look at i must agree if not practical.for looking after.
Very useful for collecting swarms though.

 

Sad that they are not more practical. I do enjoy the shape more than the box, but that is the american way...  function without form.. :(

I'm American and I function just fine, as for as form, well maybe I could lose a few lbs, but I'm at the age where I don't care if other people think I have a few extra lbs on me, so nope, not changing that. ;)

Hellbent/Heavensent, if you want to keep a skep hive or two and you don't have heavy regulations where you are, you could keep them and enjoy them, with the idea that you will  have swarms when they get overcrowded, and if you want to harvest honey you will have to open them and do a cut-out. You don't have to kill the bees in the process, you could transfer them to another skep or box, and then move them after your harvest. If you can dismantle the skep and reassemble it it can be used again.

...JP

[indypartridge]

I do enjoy the shape more than the box, but that is the american way...  function without form.. :( 

But as wtiger pointed out:

If you really want form in a hive you can get pretty creative with paint if you like.

For example, look at these:
http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j37/Maine_Beekeeper/
http://www.brendansbees.com/images/Yard1_060508.jpg
http://www.myoldtools.com/Bees/hives2.jpg

And, if you want "looks", consider a copper-topped garden hive:
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/catalog/page15.html

[johnnybigfish]

Yeh, I really like the "Copper tops"!
But I dont like the price!

your friend,
john

[hellbenthoneybee]

The copper is nice, I bet you could make some cool copper fittings yourself for less loot!  Remember to wear gloves when cuting metal!
 
Oh, JP, Arcitecture only... ;) 

[JP]

The copper is nice, I bet you could make some cool copper fittings yourself for less loot!  Remember to wear gloves when cuting metal!
 
Oh, JP, Arcitecture only... ;) 

Hellbent/Heavensent, you don't want functionality?

...JP

[hellbenthoneybee]

Of course I want functionality!!!    What kind of a girl do you think I am?

[JP]

Of course I want functionality!!!    What kind of a girl do you think I am?

Ok, so are you getting a skep or two?


...JP