The different types of beehives
The first difficulty for a beginner beekeeper is choosing a hive. There are many systems, and all of them have their advantages and disadvantages, their supporters and their critics. It is important to choose hives carefully so that the colony develops well, production is satisfactory, overwintering proceeds properly, and beekeeping remains a pleasure. Dadant, Langstroth, Voirnot, Alsacienne, WBC, Warré, Layens, Simplex, Zander, National … and all the others: which is the best hive? How can one make a decision when starting out in beekeeping and the opinions of the “experienced beekeepers” diverge?
Beekeeping literature is also full of articles praising the qualities and advantages of this or that hive model. One should not be influenced by a single beekeeper, a single press article, or a fashion trend … Seek information from several beekeepers, observe how they manage their hives, how they work—for example during the spring inspection or at harvest time—carefully weigh the pros and cons of each type, and try to relate them to your environment, your possibilities, your financial means, and the production you expect …
Self-esteem often prevents beekeepers from admitting that they made the wrong choice of hive. They will say that it produces wonderful results, and by repeating this often enough, they may eventually convince themselves. And without thinking that they are misleading you, they will praise astonishing harvests. In fact, you will be misled.
Do not make the mistake of trying several types of hives. All beginners who have had this experience have bitterly regretted it when they needed to add a brood frame to a weak hive or when they wanted to extract honey from two different types of frames … To experiment with different hive systems, they would need to be studied in the same apiary, under the same management practices, with at least half a dozen hives per system, and over several years. In other words, the hives must be in identical conditions and be able to provide a meaningful average.
Some beekeepers claim that if you are located in a region with harsh winters, you must use a large-volume hive model so that the colony has sufficient reserves. Others claim exactly the opposite. They say that bee colonies overwinter better in a small volume when winters are long and severe. Opinions differ … yet they are all right! Indeed, if you have very populous colonies, large-volume hives are better suited because they contain more reserves. However, this is not true for small and medium-sized colonies, as a large volume is not suitable for their overwintering even with abundant stores. Small-volume hives have the advantage of comfortably overwintering both large and small colonies. Very populous colonies or bee strains with high consumption must, however, be monitored at the end of winter, as their food reserves may become insufficient.
It is obvious that the type of hive should also be chosen according to your region, as climate must be taken into account and the most commonly used model in the area should be preferred. In this way, you benefit from the experience of your colleagues, who have been able to observe the behavior of their bees throughout the different seasons. Moreover, if you wish to exchange equipment or nuclei with friends, you are more likely to have standard frames. Bees have such a strong capacity for adaptation that the hive type matters relatively little to them, but standardizing equipment within the apiary will make the beekeeper’s work easier.
See also:
- Overview of beehive types
- Setting up an apiary
- Ten tips for proper hive inspection
- Ten basic rules of good beekeeping practice