David, I enjoy your vids and I'm thrilled you are using Layens. One of the benefits of Layens is you can inspect frames without exposing the entire colony by separating frames. You spaced them all out first. Not being critical I just prefer keeping the frames left in the hive box touching, it's less intrusive on the colony.
In my 5th year with Layens and no previous experience with Langstroth. Last year I switched from smoke to a fresh water spray bottle. The hint of rain gets them to clear the cracks quickly. Don't use sugar water because they can't clean it up. I think the bees are calmer because the whole hive is not exposed to the daylight. Thanks for teaching us about the bees. Bees are bees no matter what box they are in.
Glad to see you venturing out of your comfort zone and sharing your experience. That’s probably the best motivator for new beekeepers. All my layens have a bee space under the follower board. Leaving the empty frames out and the bee space allows any bees in the top to migrate back into the main hive chamber. It also allows for larger colonies to have some overflow space. They won’t build comb in that empty side but they will cluster up on rainy days or at night.
I also found the top bars to be awkward but eventually figured out that if you keep the frames you're not working on together it makes it easier (less gaps for the bees to be in). Before closing the gap after added the removed frame back in, smoke the bees off the seam. The biggest problem I found with the Layen's frames are that small hive beetle larvae hide between the frames where the bees can't manage them. Loved the fresh look of the wood on your new hive. Thanks for the videos.
Thanks for your video on the Layen's hive. I am a new beekeeper, this being my first year. I was going to have a Layen's hive, which I do, and the Mega HexHive. But the Mega HexHive came too late for me, so I got a Langstroth hive instead. So now I have something to compare. For the Layen's hive, I read the book on what to expect and don't use all my frames to begin. Just nine of the 14 frames, plus a follower board and a feeder trough. Next time to check out both hives is Sunday.
This was a fun video to watch. Thank you! I had wondered about Layens hives. Just a thought...... When I had a top bar hive, I had a matching nuc box that the bars and comb fit into nicely. When a swarm from my Lanstroth colonies moved into that nuc, I found it was much harder because I could not put down the bar. Eventually, I figured out that 2 medium empty boxes worked to rest a filled bar during inspection. Will a Layens frame fit into a Lanstroth deep x2?
I installed a 5 frame nuke into my layens using the langstroth frames. Made jig frame to accept the langstroth frames. But you change the orientation of the frames doing it. The bees didn't care and the queen is laying away with the new orientation. David it would help if you didn't have those empty frames behind the divider board in the empty part. The idea is to slide the frames back together after you drop them back down. This way your not dropping up against another frame.
Sorry I'm finding layens hives much more challenging for me than a Langstroth design. So challenging not to smash bees when you push the frames back together. But if that's all I ever knew, I'd probably love them.
First, it’s a bad idea to fill the empty space in the box beyond the follower board with unused frames. Second it’s very simple to not squish bees with the head rails by either blowing them down with your breath or use smoke. The bonus of having the solid rails is not exposing the brood every time you open the box. This helps the bees save energy (honey) and maintain homeostasis (temperature and humidity). Without the extra frames you also have more room to work. You don’t need to sit frames on the ground like Langstroth to make space.
Got to agree that the ease of squishing bees is the thing I dislike the most about the Layens. However it may be poor complaint because langstroth will regularly squish bees on the box edges when placing supers back, its just that you dont notice. My solution is the same as you did, you'll get faster with experience. If you still dont like it, maybe the solution is to reduce the top bar and use cover boards so it works like a long lang. Also I too expected the comb to be twisted, interesting result. When I use plastic foundation I only use one, cut to size and oriented correctly in the top half.
Apparently turning the frames vertical didn’t matter… that’s great..I made an 8 frame box with the frames turned vertical to see how the bees adapt. Unfortunately, I haven gotten another swarm yet. Good to know that it might work. Another interesting video, thanks!
Yes, that's bad new for bees ( it will kill them too ) and it's bad to have it in your honey. I'd try and mop up as much as I can or pull that super off and get the bees off and decide how many frames are useable. Sorry that happened.
One bee was harmed during the making of this video. Oof. Yea idk about those frames. I’d like a little bit more to grab onto. My butter fingers would end up slipping and dropping frames in.
I kept hoping you'd free the bee that looked to have her leg pinched between frames, but I didn't think you ever saw her. I'm not really familiar with the Layens design, but it looks a lot like what vinofarm did with his bee boxes.
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David, I enjoy your vids and I'm thrilled you are using Layens. One of the benefits of Layens is you can inspect frames without exposing the entire colony by separating frames. You spaced them all out first. Not being critical I just prefer keeping the frames left in the hive box touching, it's less intrusive on the colony.
In my 5th year with Layens and no previous experience with Langstroth. Last year I switched from smoke to a fresh water spray bottle. The hint of rain gets them to clear the cracks quickly. Don't use sugar water because they can't clean it up. I think the bees are calmer because the whole hive is not exposed to the daylight. Thanks for teaching us about the bees. Bees are bees no matter what box they are in.
Thanks for being nice to my first attempt with a Layens.
Very good point, My humble opinion eliminate one frame for better room and have a brush handy so that you can move them out your way.
Glad to see you venturing out of your comfort zone and sharing your experience. That’s probably the best motivator for new beekeepers.
All my layens have a bee space under the follower board. Leaving the empty frames out and the bee space allows any bees in the top to migrate back into the main hive chamber. It also allows for larger colonies to have some overflow space. They won’t build comb in that empty side but they will cluster up on rainy days or at night.
Thanks, David, I have been watching some videos with Dr. Leo Sharashkin. These are very interesting
This video gave me some more things to think about before I decide to switch the type of hive body I use. Thanks David!
You're welcome and thanks for watching.
I also found the top bars to be awkward but eventually figured out that if you keep the frames you're not working on together it makes it easier (less gaps for the bees to be in). Before closing the gap after added the removed frame back in, smoke the bees off the seam. The biggest problem I found with the Layen's frames are that small hive beetle larvae hide between the frames where the bees can't manage them. Loved the fresh look of the wood on your new hive. Thanks for the videos.
Thanks for your video on the Layen's hive. I am a new beekeeper, this being my first year. I was going to have a Layen's hive, which I do, and the Mega HexHive. But the Mega HexHive came too late for me, so I got a Langstroth hive instead. So now I have something to compare. For the Layen's hive, I read the book on what to expect and don't use all my frames to begin. Just nine of the 14 frames, plus a follower board and a feeder trough. Next time to check out both hives is Sunday.
Yes use that free space to spread the frames for working. Also I chamfer the top edges of the top bars for better access with the hive tool.
Great tip!
This was a fun video to watch. Thank you! I had wondered about Layens hives. Just a thought...... When I had a top bar hive, I had a matching nuc box that the bars and comb fit into nicely. When a swarm from my Lanstroth colonies moved into that nuc, I found it was much harder because I could not put down the bar. Eventually, I figured out that 2 medium empty boxes worked to rest a filled bar during inspection. Will a Layens frame fit into a Lanstroth deep x2?
I want to add a "drone comb" frame for Varora control. Do you suggest a green plastic foundation or modifying frames? Thx, great channel!
I installed a 5 frame nuke into my layens using the langstroth frames. Made jig frame to accept the langstroth frames. But you change the orientation of the frames doing it. The bees didn't care and the queen is laying away with the new orientation. David it would help if you didn't have those empty frames behind the divider board in the empty part. The idea is to slide the frames back together after you drop them back down. This way your not dropping up against another frame.
Sorry I'm finding layens hives much more challenging for me than a Langstroth design. So challenging not to smash bees when you push the frames back together. But if that's all I ever knew, I'd probably love them.
I have the same issues, have seen to scrap the frames to from others, your still doing good sir, lol
Good video thanks for sharing David 👍 Bees are looking good isn't that frame going to be heavy once full. How did it feel with such a long frame 🤔
First, it’s a bad idea to fill the empty space in the box beyond the follower board with unused frames. Second it’s very simple to not squish bees with the head rails by either blowing them down with your breath or use smoke. The bonus of having the solid rails is not exposing the brood every time you open the box. This helps the bees save energy (honey) and maintain homeostasis (temperature and humidity).
Without the extra frames you also have more room to work. You don’t need to sit frames on the ground like Langstroth to make space.
Got to agree that the ease of squishing bees is the thing I dislike the most about the Layens.
However it may be poor complaint because langstroth will regularly squish bees on the box edges when placing supers back, its just that you dont notice.
My solution is the same as you did, you'll get faster with experience.
If you still dont like it, maybe the solution is to reduce the top bar and use cover boards so it works like a long lang.
Also I too expected the comb to be twisted, interesting result. When I use plastic foundation I only use one, cut to size and oriented correctly in the top half.
good way of putting frames in but you only have to run it about the last inch to get bees out of the way.
So cool
Hi David, good job, manipulating those frames so as not to kill any bees. I think I will keep my Langstroth hives!
I like the Layens concept and I'm going to learn it but I'm not giving up my Langstroth hives any time soon. 😉
Apparently turning the frames vertical didn’t matter… that’s great..I made an 8 frame box with the frames turned vertical to see how the bees adapt. Unfortunately, I haven gotten another swarm yet. Good to know that it might work. Another interesting video, thanks!
Thanks!
David, how would you handle spilling a large amount of oil from a beetle trap in the hive? It was specifically the honey supper.
Yes, that's bad new for bees ( it will kill them too ) and it's bad to have it in your honey. I'd try and mop up as much as I can or pull that super off and get the bees off and decide how many frames are useable. Sorry that happened.
Frames look too heavy to me by the time they are completely filled and drawn.
One bee was harmed during the making of this video. Oof.
Yea idk about those frames. I’d like a little bit more to grab onto. My butter fingers would end up slipping and dropping frames in.
Even in a langstroth it's almost impossible not to kill some bees during an inspection. We all try to avoid it, but it happens. Things are tight!
What bee jacket is that?
I bought mine years ago from a place called Glory Bee.
I kept hoping you'd free the bee that looked to have her leg pinched between frames, but I didn't think you ever saw her.
I'm not really familiar with the Layens design, but it looks a lot like what vinofarm did with his bee boxes.
Even in a langstroth it's almost impossible not to kill some bees during an inspection. We all try to avoid it, but it happens.