Basic Observation Hive Box This is a very basic style of a tower observation box. It has one single internal space with a volume of 6.2 litres. You could easily make them different sizes, larger or smaller. Tips for getting
Display Tower with Removable Frames Note: This is a new design and is still being tested so availability will be limited to “beta testing” boxes. Sarah from Bee Yourself – Brisbane Native Bee Business, was looking for an observation hive
Native Stingless Bee Display Tower This is an observation hive box intended for displays and education. This could be set up at demonstrations, markets or just at home for fun. A hinged door on each side so it can be
Hour Glass Observation Hive The idea This started with an email from Brian Keeble “So it got me thinking, we could attempt a Perspex cylinder…..Then I thought, to make things easier, we could have the rectangular exterior made of wood
I bought this barrel from ebay. It’s a 5 litre oak barrel, possibly a bit of a cheap low quality product that might look shabby before long. These would normally be used to hold your wine as they have a
Combination Hive Box Article by Brian Keeble I approached Steve asking if he’d be happy to construct a ‘custom’ native bee hive build, thankfully (as my DIY is poor) he agreed. So, after several emails clarifying various issues, Steve got
Some Solitary Bees like Resin Bees will create their nest in small tunnels or grooves and for most of us it’s a mystery what happens inside the tunnels. This observation block allows the nests to be easily viewed without causing
I’ve been working on some routed timber signs… I’ve used some rough Cypress timber slabs here, putting them through the thicknesser to achieve a nice flat surface. The grain shows up really nicely on Cypress, as opposed to Hoop Pine
Edit 2021: I have since simplified the kit and removed the plywood and adapter plate for version 3. This is the new version of my Budding Kit (Budding also known as Eduction). The previous version was quite involved in the
This article demonstrates a very simple design of a Stingless Bee Box – Pine OATH. Standard OATH dimensions are 280mm long by 200mm wide. This design is based on these OATH Construction Plans (OATH – Original Australian Trigona Hive) *Please
Above: I fetched one of the spare Mail Boxes I usually make Below: Adding a head, tail and feet. The head started out facing forward as you’d think would be normal, After thinking about it i pawsed, and remembering the
Native Bee Box with Slim Honey Trays These are slim honey tray frames that sit on top of the standard OATH design. There’s two frames and also the top lid with a similar shallow depth make it three frames for
I thought i’d make a few Observation boxes with a fitted lid, not hinged. The lid will be easily removed so you can see through the viewing window and check on the progress of the bees. The top honey super frame.
The Dictionary describes a Skep as “A straw or wicker beehive”. Quote from Wikipedia “Skeps, baskets placed open-end-down, have been used to house bees for some 2000 years. Initially they were made from wicker plastered with mud and dung but from the
I decided to set up one of my Log Cabins for Budding (Hive Duplication). This process could be done with just about any kind of empty box. I thought it might be better to do it this way than to split
The Outhouse Hive Version 3 – 2020 Version 3 – Boxes are now painted for a better lasting finish. Version 2 – 2018 Version 2 held a standard native bee box inside (OATH style). Unpainted and a rusty tin roof.
I’m currently making a few rebated boxes, these will be a raw timber finish with oil. There’ll be a hinged lid and clear viewing window on top so you can open it and see the bees inside. Specs: Timber: Cypress Timber Thickness: 35mm
This article follows the progress of this box from 2017 to the current date… I’ve started on some new Octagonal Boxes. I’ll add more to this as I progress. The base layer and middle layer are 2.6L volume each. The
This is roughly based on a few different designs. It shares the same 200mm x 200mm measurements as the Phone Box Hive internal frames, The Outhouse frames, and also has similar aspects as Tim Heard’s Mini OATH. I will be able to
Here’s a very simply designed and built OATH. This box has no Honey Super and is not meant for Honey production. Using rough sawn Cypress, I planed the side that goes on the inside of the box to get a
nativebeehives.com is a project website with a focus on individual design and construction of Native Bee Hives, lots of photos, information about Australian native bees and also a news story thrown in around the place!