Does anyone have a Layen's hive?

[Bill Murray]

Bob, how many frames did you start with? I dont have a lyens but I am running double deep frames in a hive as an experiment. I installed a swarm on two singe deeps one over the other. one double deep on each side with empty feeders filling the voids. once good comb was started removed two feeders ( one was over the top of the other) added two more frames. Maybe too much room, just a thought.

[Bob Wilson]

I cut all the cross comb out, and strapped the larger pieces into the bottom half of 3 different frames.
Thankfully, I had a full Layens frame, which I had filled out with 2 large pieces of drawn langstroth comb, cut down to fit, and which was in a swarm box recently occupied. That will go a long way towards guiding the comb building straight.
Plus, they already started building the top area of the 3 partial frames again, and not too badly, so I was able to trim and straighten a lot of that out to match the pieces below.

[Bob Wilson]

15thmember.
You not only have some long hives, but a Layen's also?

[The15thMember]

15thmember.
You not only have some long hives, but a Layen's also?

No, I actually use all medium langstroths.  But like I said, I've never used foundation, and I don't plan to start now, so I have experience working with wonky comb.    I am interested in alternate hive types though, just out of curiosity really.  I always like hearing how you manage your long hives and now the Layens. 

[Bob Wilson]

I also use foundationless since I started 5years ago. Never any trouble with it straight comb.
This Layens is going to be a little different from my long hives. De Layen's claim is 2 visits a year. One for spring set up, and a fall harvest /winter trip. I have a hard time believing it won't swarm.
I just reserved his book, "keeping bees in horizontal hives" from the public library. I look forward to figuring it out.

[Bill Murray]

So if you can figure out the management differential from Lillie France VS Georgia, you might be able to pull that off. I guess It would be tryin to figure out exactly how many frames need to be run. On top of a few other minor details.

[Bill Murray]

So now Im going to ask probably a dumb question. I traded off some 16" deep frames at beefest for 2 extra deep nuc boxes.
I hived a swarm that took up residence in a couple boxes of freshly waxed foundation. on those 16 inch deep frames. They are doing amazingly well, but how would I ever spin those frames???????

[BeeMaster2]

Bill,
I also started that double deep hive right after BeeFest. We won?t bee able to extract frames bt we could make cut comb with it them.
Jim Altmiller

[Acebird]

They are doing amazingly well, but how would I ever spin those frames???????

Isn't the idea that the 16 in frames are for the brood nest and you would use mediums on top for honey?  Crush and strain for a dead out.

[Bill Murray]

See, I said it was probably a dumb question.

[Acebird]

Not a dumb question.  There are no dumb questions.

[Bill Murray]

Yes, Ace,  that one was. I had a case of tunnel vision, was on a different page and wasnt thinking. Thanks though my friend for trying to raise my self esteem, but Im good.

[Bob Wilson]

I got rid of the wire in the frames and put a single dowel through the middle.
I plan on crush and straining the Layen's frames .
I couldn't find the queen in the Layens a few days ago. The swarm was a virgin swarm, I believe. Regardless, I wanted the nice, full Layens comb frame I used to bait a swarm trap, which did in fact catch a swarm. So 2 days ago I combined that swarm with the good frame, with the queenless swarm in the Layens.
Today, I finished putting both sets of frames together. It is looking strong, and they are filling out the Layen's frames quickly.

[Bob Wilson]

Bill and Jim.
So, I understand that you have built a double deep brood box with solid, double deep comb in the frames? 
That would mean the brood nest would have lot of room and a large honey band above for winter migration.
Then you plan on putting medium supers on top?

[BeeMaster2]

Bob,
Yes that is the plan. It will bee a while before I can add a super. It was a small swarm that came from my observation hive but it seems to bee building up fast. They are working on five double deep frames and they only covered one frame when I put them in this hive.
Jim Altmiller

[Bob Wilson]

Once I got the initial cross comb straightened out, the bees have been building straight since. There are 5 full frames and 4 half frames built it in the last few weeks.

[BeeMaster2]

 Bob,
I checked on the double deep hive yesterday they are building nice straight comb and filling up the hive fast. They are half way done with frame 6 and starting on frame 7. Not bad for a small swarm that started on March 7.
They did not touch the out side of frame one, it is a plasticel frame. The one next to it was a drawn plasticel frame. The rest are all foundation less.


Jim Altmiller

[Bob Wilson]

Jim.
How many frames are in your double deep hive?

[BeeMaster2]

Bob,
It has eleven frames. Probably why it is growing so fast.
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

Bob I did not watch the video, but Jeff Horchoff of "Jeff Horchoff Bees" put out a video 3 days ago titled: "Let's talk about the new Layens Hive and anything else."

https://www.youtube.com/live/TA0lfx2hF8s?feature=share