My favorite part of beekeeping continues to be woodworking. I wonder if the Valkyrie, seated in the stand and full of bees would weigh enough to convince a honey badger to look somewhere else for a snack? A few weeks ago I was racking my brain to figure out a way to donate a frame of eggs to a friend who was afraid her top-bar had become queenless. I never know as much as I need to, but I muddle through. In my oven at home, I turn the dial to change the temperature; I dont weld extra steel to the sides, top, or bottom. My reason for doing so has to do with the very damp environment of coastal Washington. Combing colonies can be accomplished through several options. The biggest benefit of horizontal hives is no heavy lifting. In reviewing this problem, Bruce decided to design a hive stand with built-in insulation. One of Naomis hives showing the woolen insulating blanket. P.S. Surprise! Connecticuts state insect is the European praying mantis. So the soil temperature would swing from hot to cold, wet to dry in ongoing cycles. Very well-thought-out. If you have any questions, please give us a call: 541 771-7278. Great site! Your colony are burr-comb-making machines. Hi Rusty, The honey storage area is not clearly separated from the brood area, so you harvest the honey from wherever you find it. Yes, beekeeping is more than insulating a hive, but it has become a good addition to the Valkyrie long hive. In learning from my mistake, I was too excited to assemble and didnt cut in the bee entrances before assembling. I did not get the wool blanket with my hive, I just continued to use the canvas cover in winter. In hot weather, the solid drawer may be removed and the predators such as wasps are foiled again by the secured screened drawer: no access to the colony here! Benefits of the horizontal hive are that it requires no heavy lifting and needs minimal management. THANKS ever so much for your advice. The entire hive is disassembled and packed in two boxes for shipping. Close-up view of varroa trays. Thanks for contacting us, and for your question. The honey bee is an insect and is preeminently a bee; honeybee is equivalent to Johnsmith. Chris. In order for the colony to achieve homeostasis without unnecessary energy output, these significant environmental conditions were consideration starting with the Valhalla and into its next generation, the Valkyrie. Minnesota now has a state bee as well as a state insect. Thanks! We can ship to the UK, just call for shipping prices and hive availability. Next I ripped the bottom pieces from the shorter half. By clicking on these ads, making a purchase, or taking other action, we can earn a little extra money to fund future projects. Do honey bees leave the hive in the winter and return in the spring? As an added bonus, you can specify how high you want the top of your hive to be, and he will cut the legs of the hive stand to assure the proper height just for you. I live in Clallam County, Port Angeles. The hive body holds 24 standard deep frames. The Queen Must Die: My favorite honey bee book. Well look forward to hearing from you soon! Outer (stores) frames from bottom, brood frames from bottom, brood frames from top, stores frames from top? Thank you for your interest, Sharon, we look forward to hearing from you! What a lovely hive. Long hive discussion page. Im unfamiliar with the Karoo, is it desert? Thank you. Instead, all of the frames are at waist level. The Valkyrie has an hinged gable-style lid that comes in two standard finishes: deluxe powder-coated and textured aluminum. : ) Isnt it true that burr-comb of some sort will happen in every hive body horizontal or vertical? There is 2 1/2 from the bottom bar to the slats. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thats very clear, and makes perfect sense! TOO COOL!!! There are also free plans online for those who want to build their own Layens hive. Worth looking into. Ideally they do not run out or have stores split on 2 sides of the brood nest, they cannot shift to the other end in the middle of the winter. Wow, that hive body looks fantastic! Rigid foam was secured underneath the long hive as an experiment. Thank you so much, Adrienne, for your kind remarks! My questions is, do the Langstroth frames fit this box? We only use Amazon Associates and Google Adsense. The Valkyrie is designed to make the cross-over from a Langstroth quite seamlessly. The Valkyrie long hive: built with love for bees and their keepers, Under cover of darkness, I watered my neighbors weed, A short history of the Valkyrie long hive. It is lighter, taller, and built to last. This Long Langstroth Hive is basically a long deep box made from two by materials, and his claim is that it is low maintenance for the bees, and less lifting for the beekeeper. All rights reserved Honey Bee Suite copyright 2009-2022 by Rusty Burlew. Im using long Langstroths here in the Karoo, South Africa. Rock absorbs heat and radiates it back up into the hive. Is there a queen excluder to one side? Hoover Hives Review Should You Get a Wax Coated Beehive? Rusty, did you drill openings in your end cap roof for ventilation? The back or beekeepers side has a viewing window and varroa drawers. But much to her surprise (and mine!) Every piece was protected from every other with a variety of corners and braces. I would like to build a long hive that is insulated all year, it can get pretty hot here in the summer and I would like to know your opinion on the idea. This is so cool. Hive prices start at $480 depending upon the lid you choose and other options. The canvas cover keeps the bees calm while working them. The stand is made of wood and is designed to hold a large rectangle of 3-inch rigid foam which stops the heat loss in its tracks. The Beekeepers Carpenter The Right Hand LLP. How much do they cost? The bees should be okay in summer as long as you have some way for the heat to escape. This seems to be a very straightforward solution, but thats just my opinion ? Very well made and thought out. This website is made possible by people like you. Just wondering what your take is on the ventilation? The Valkyrie long hive with its stand makes a secure, stable combination to strap. Im interested in exploring long hives. When I visited the shop, they were still finalizing the packaging method, but what I saw was impressive. Thank you for any information you can provide. Im about to set mine up this coming March and I would like to know how yours are doing so far. The standard Valkyrie comes with a canvas cover that fits over the top bars. Thank you Vivien and Rusty for your quick replies. Do you sell the blueprints for these hives? It says: If the insect is what the name implies, write the two words separately; otherwise run them together. Affiliate Disclosure: Thank you supporting us by visiting our site and posts. In transferring frames from Langstroth boxes, what order would I place them in? Included is a fitted sheet of rigid insulation which protects the colony from icy-cold or super-heated ground temperatures year-round: less work for the ladies!. The Easy Glide will allow for self-opening and closing with just a light initial touch. Great article. Your bees will propolize the canvas cover to their liking. The standard hinges are durable and long-lasting steel, rust resistant and strong enough to stay open in inclement weather. I own four long hives (not the Valkyrie) but have only had one with a colony going into one winter, and two with a colony going into another winter. Check out his plans at https://horizontalhive.com/how-to-build/long-langstroth-plans.shtml . The Valkyrie has one additional type of hinge called Easy Glide which is currently in testing and should be available next spring. Another combining method is to have the incoming colony walk-in. I like to build more than one when I am doing a project like this. Two standard size 10 frame hive entrances that accept standard hive entrance reducers, sturdy landing pads, lockable hinged cover, Holds 31 standard size 10 frames and can house 2 colonies. Wow, very nice, I wish we could buy these in the UK! Im very glad to know another Valkyrie beekeeper. To what cost to the colony were my choices? Ive never seen a problem with overwintering them, and in fact, my top-bar hive is much easier to overwinter than my Langstrothsbasically, it takes care of itself. You are so correct about securing a long hive to be easier than verticals. And heres hoping both of you also have Happy Thanksgivings! I currently use 1-inch foilbacked styrofoam on the hives I have and it seemed to work quit well. Beneath the body sits two drawers, screened and solid, which are interchangeable left-to-right (for those of us prone to forgetting). Provide a ramp that connects the ground with the hives entrance. And yes, sometimes, as in Langstroth/vertical hives, there will be burr comb. That wax or plastic foundation has a pre-determined stamped cell-size, usually worker cell. It is helpful to read the full text of his experimenting on various hive styles and their related heat loss. I too have a new Valkyrie hive and I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and installing bees into this beautifully constructed hive. It can also hold the Interior Canvas Cover which is included in each hive purchase. Any change from the original format will void the warranty. Gotta get the girls through winter, but come spring, theres gonna be new houses in our neighborhood. I can also padlock them easier than a vertical hive. The long Langstroth hive uses the same frames as standard Langstroth hives, so its easy to switch over and finding replacement parts should not be a problem. I asked Vivien to give me a run-down of the Valkyrie features in her own words, and here is what she has to say: In the glorious halls of Valhalla, slain Norse warriors were transported by the Valkyries to enjoy the thrill of never-ending battle. I live in the Appalachian Mountains, and the beekeepers I know that have tried top bar hives and the extra deep Layens style long hives have not been too successful wintering the bees in our climate. Keep us all posted! Where can I buy one of these? I worry more about heat than cold, although heat is probably less of a problem in a long hive. For more on long hive beekeeping, see the long hive discussion page. Home Bee Blog The Valkyrie long hive: built with love for bees and their keepers. This hive is extremely popular in Europe, where millions of Layens hives are used today. Imagine the lucky colony that lives here! Mitchell has a masters in engineering with a physics background. All is good for colonies to prosper stress free when the Valkyrie is completely engaged as it was thoughtfully designed and maticuously built. Back to two deeps and the impossible stuff, something I really didnt want to do. Im very interested in purchasing one. Youre welcome, Rodney, Rusty is the best! Thanks again for all your wonderful assistance and knowledge. However, the bees natural inclination is to move vertically as in a hollow tree cavity, and in a horizontal hive we are asking them to change what they have been doing for ages. Larry and Naomi Price (foreground) working their bees in July. An optional wool blanket fits in the space above the canvas cover. Finally, an optional custom-fit stand can be ordered with each Valkyrie: it allows the top of the hive body (not the lid itself) to sit at 30 from grade-level which is perfect for any beekeeper needing to be seated during inspection time, and suited to the height of most adults. Thanks for the write up. A second viewing window can be added if you wish. Enjoy! We understand that there are many ways to do things, and love to hear other opinions. One caveat: if the frames from the Flow Hive are shallow/Western/medium-sized, be sure to harvest them at the first opportunity dont leave them inside the Valkyrie too long or the ladies will draw comb on the bottom bar of the frame. Naomi has found that the wool blanket not only keeps the bees warmer in winter, but temperature readings confirms it keeps the bees cooler in summer as well. It is reinforced at the corners where the hive tool will be used, decreasing the chance of rips or tears. There are a handful of folks here in Central Oregon who have Valkyries that house thriving colonies which have over-wintered beautifully, so thats a wonderful thing. Just sent you an email, also. Use a chisel to square the corners. If you have 2 boxes with brood then you need to merge it in a fashion that would end up with the brood all together on the entrance end with stores of honey farthest from the entrance. The teaching Ive been given points out the most important factor: what size are the cells, and, why are the bees building them? So overwintering the Valkyrie in a damp environment will be interesting. More exciting to Bruce and I, (as being directly vested in this beautiful Long Hive), is the fact that Ive shipped Valkyries to Colorado, Montana, Georgia, New York, Maine and this week, to Utah, and several delivered to the Washington State AND Oregon Coast area. give the beekeeper an ease of operation which help those with arm, shoulder, or wrist problems. Why have I never seen a honey bee cocoon. I was thinking I would move toward this type of hive as the Langstroth is just impossible for me. Naomi and Larry continued to use the Valhalla long hive, but over the years, they discovered improvements that would make the hive even betterboth for the bees and the beekeeper. A green frame manufactured specifically with drone-size cells is another option to offer the colony. Nancy, I just returned from the Olympia WA area: so far, Rusty, youre joined by Tina L., Jan H. (two Valkyries) and Marge P., each in the Olympia area or within 20 miles of it. I live in Maryland, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay where summers are quite hot and humid and winters cold and damp. I think a Valkyrie may be your solution. Glad to address your flow hive question: it seems that the frames which are used in the flow hive are sized differently than the standard deep frame used in the Valkyrie Long Hive. Its wonderful to see that you use a foundationless frame (no wires) because thats what we use in our Valkyrie Long Hive. and then the upper boxes of honey and stores next, IE farther from the entrance. Yes, Terry, there were holes drilled in the roof of the Valkyrie. While not as common in the US, Horizontal hives are used a lot in Europe. There was a similar one with carved images of honey bees on the exterior at EAS. To be fairly precise. They are suitable for the beekeeper who doesnt often get a chance to open the hives. Hello, Sarah, and thanks for your question: Whew, we get this one frequently: the answer may be on the Long Hive drop-down on Rustys site, but Im happy to help! Queen excluder included? Such a wealth of expertise from the bee whisperers and Bruces devotion to craftsmanship Im privileged to just soak it all in. My question is about insulation. And then there are the Valkyries that dont have bottom-bar burr-comb at all go figure. I would have gone out and measured if it wasnt raining buckets. Ideas a free, but you'll have to pay attention. How livable would our homes be minus insulation and with several windows or doors continuously open? Please add my additional comment to Viviens wonderful description of honey bees loving to produce burr comb, and how the beekeeper can rescue all of that high energy work by the bees. Good afternoon, Mr. Murless, congratulations on your inventive beekeeping! I wonder if the clothes moths are a problem with the wool blanket? We believe that wood has a natural beauty that should be brought out and restored, not covered or thrown away. A single observation window is standard and placed on the left where viewing is best. Plans to build your own Layens hive can be found here. Vivien is really fun to talk with, I had a ton of questions. Larger frames of the Layens hive allow the queen to lay without interruption. Although they are beneficial insects, they are not native to North America. How do you winterize? Suitable for Africa! Once I had the two by materials cut, I set up an dado stack on my table saw to cut the frame rests in the long boards, and then dado on the ends to accept the sides. I use frames without wire, and harvest by cutting out combs. Do you have a different name for your hives or are they always called a long Langstroth? Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account. Large box is 44 lbs and the small box is 34 lbs. Good work, Minnesota! While Langstroth hives are vertically stacked boxes, horizontal hives are single story hives that expand the width of the box in order to hold many more bars or frames. I live on Long Island in New York, USA. My thermal camera detected a winter colony pushed up against their inner cover, while heat was escaping from the hives bottom. The ventilation ports fixed it in a heartbeat and the continued use of the canvas cover (after bleaching) keeps the hive from being drafty. When it became necessary for them to switch builders, they decided to incorporate the many changes they envisioned. My husband, who assembled the hive for me was very impressed with the attention to detail in the workmanship and the clarity of the assembly instructions. Drape your choice of paper from the top bar of frame 16, down its face and continue across the slatted bottom toward the space of frame 24. Derek Mitchell wrote an interesting article addressing insulation and heat loss, Honey Bee Engineering: Top Ventilation and Top Entrances for the August 2017 issue of American Bee Journal. Nan. Lids come in two standard colors, or they may be custom ordered in other colors. (and transferring cash!). Is there very little rainfall, or quite a lot? Ours are gone now. Ill be happy to answer any questions you may have, and, feel free to look up our website. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I just set up a page for long hive discussions. While Odin ever-awaited new arrivals, it was the Valkyries who remained vigilant and watchful, presiding over earths battlefields to choose who would be taken aloft. How much space is there between the slatted rack and the frame in a Valkyrie long hive? You must be very athletic, indeed. The location is mountainous terrain at 4200-feet backed by ponderosa pine and Douglas-firs. Check out the website or give me a call: 541 771-7278. The Top Bar hive, Long Langstroth hive, and the Layens hive are all forms of horizontal hives. Beekeeping should be fun and not so worrisome. In traditional Langstroth hives, youll need to lift boxes that weigh 50 lbs or more to access the frames underneath. From what I understand ventilation is more important than insulation. I have heard a few stories where insulated hives outperformed non-insulated in summer. Since the hive was assembled before packaging, you are assured the pieces will fit together with ease. Hence, burr comb. The legs are cut from the 2x4 at a 45 degree angle to help shed water.

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