Installing Langstroth Deep Bee Nuc Into Layens Horizontal Hive

We used Dr. Leo’s free plans for Langstroth to Layens conversions to allow us to install 5 frame Langstroth deep bee Nuc into our insulated horizontal Layens Hive after making some modifications in our last video. The idea is to install the brood comb at 90 degrees from how it would hang in the Langstroth deep Nuc and slowly encourage the bees to stop using this comb/frames for brood by moving them further and further from the entrance. Once these Langstroth frames aren’t being used for brood, we will remove them and leave the Hive with just the Layens frames. Our Layens frames are completely empty, not even starter strip when we installed them. We tried catching our own swarm of natural bees, but after 2 years with no success, we decided to buy honey bees from a friend.

[@wendygrant2735]

I'd like to see everything, don't skip footage. It's all very educational. thanks for sharing.

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Awesome, thanks for watching. I think I have finally found a video editing app that works, so we have several videos coming

[@bryancosten7184]

Dont you just love the Layens hives?! Im a first year guy.(2021) I bought a swarm trap from Dr Leo's site and caught 2 swarms with it. One in mid May and another 4th of July. Built a 12 frame using Dr Leo's plans and the bees went crazy! It was a good summer here in Central PA. Planning on catching 2-3 more this spring. But I gotta build 2, 20 framers and another 12 frame. Thanks for the good info and taking the time to make a good informative video! Thanks, Bry, the bee guy

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Awesome, thanks for watching

[@oneeyehives]

Congratulations and good luck! I look forward to seeing how you make out. A few observations if I may. If you happen to do these conversions again don’t use an impact drill. That is the main reason all the bees were shaken off the frames. I run lag bolts down from inside of the hive into the stand so they can’t get knocked over. I’m in bear county so I also run rebar in an angle from each leg 4ft in the ground so they can’t get pushed over. I would highly recommend ordering a box of BetterComb. It’s sized for langstroth but you can just cut it to width and gives you a half frame of comb. I have found that that makes a huge difference in my swarm traps since the queen has immediate space to start laying. I also put them into my hives in the brood chamber so they don’t have to waste resources and time to build comb. Just make sure you mark the frames and keep them in the brood chamber and not the honey side. I would also recommend getting a box of the wax sheets from Dr. Leo’s website. I take a couple sheets and cut 2” starter strips that I put in my swarm traps along with the BetterComb. In my hives I will alternate between a full sheet and a starter strip. Lemongrass oil works perfectly so no need to change that. Just need to make your traps more inviting. This fall or next spring scrape out a bunch of propilis and then warm it up and spread around in your traps. You can buy it from Dr. Leo’s website also. Location is a big one. Use obvious land marks like tree lines water ways, power lines, and I found that my traps that had eastern morning exposure and then afternoon shade were the first to catch swarms. I know it is a pain but if you put them up close to 15 feet you’ll have better luck as well since they are also looking for security in their homes from predators. Sorry for such a long post. Keep cracking on and I look forward to seeing how it goes.

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Thanks for the tips and thanks for watching and commenting

[@wesleyrobbins]

Nice I'm building a 61frame Layens bee bed will be transferring two colonies in the spring provided they survive of course

[@richtrumbo37]

Don't skip footage. I like to see all the footage, good and bad. thanks.

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Fair enough, I’m just usually not well planned enough to get everything in one take or to not have long periods of nothing happening! Lol. Thanks for watching!

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

that was smart to put the nuc box in the layens box to give the bees time to orient to the new entrance prior to transferring the frames.

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Advice from my mentor!

[@daniellineberry8879]

Your hives look great! I am hoping to start transitioning to those kind of hives next year. I just caught my first swarm, and it was big! Moved them into a 8 frame hive, which they filled up with as many bees as were in my trap! Hope these work out for you!

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Too bad you didn’t have one of these horizontal hives ready to go! It would be great to just dump a swarm into one of these. I’m planning to build another hive this week so that I can put a cutout into it that I’m planning on doing next week. Thanks for watching!

[@MBHeritageFarms]

Very interesting, new friends here from the Homesteaders group on FB

[@juliusa9425]

If you live in a cold climate, your bee may starve in the winter as the feeding area is too narrow and not enough honey is available for them to live. We had a similar adaptation and lost all of our bees as they reached the top of the frame too early and it was cold and they couldnt make it to the next honey frame. You may want to switch those out.

[@Gord1973]

It’s nice to see the Layens hive in use in Canada. How are your hives managing the winter? I’m hoping to get into bed keeping this year (2023)

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Unfortunately I lost the bees during a winter storm that blew them over. They lasted until February or so after that, but then died.

[@pmlm1571]

Why wouldn't the honey/nectar just drip out when you orient the comb out of plumb into the Layens? I know Dr. Leo cuts and rubber bands such comb (keeping the orientation of the comb upright) into the new frames. Also: Goats LOVE to jump up high onto things, of course they thought you put those hives there for them to climb! And: Dr. Leo says put some design to help bees differentiate which hive is which! Spray paint a stencil, anything! Love your hives, Good luck!

[@kellymayhew6308]

Getting ready to do this type of installation so I’m wondering how it worked out for you. Did your bees transition well?

[@BeldingHillFarms]

They did transition perfectly

[@raenrfm]

I'm about to do this myself, first time bee keeper with a nuc with 4 Langstroth frames. If you are following Dr. Leo's plans for the conversions, he says to rip 2" 2by material for the top bars, but never mentions which way they are to be placed. I'm placing mine with the 2" dimension vertically, this should resolve the issue with the frame touching the bottom of the box. Dr. Leo should really update his instructions.

[@toddhill8543]

Be glad he doesn't charge anything for them.

[@curteaton8162]

I heard about goats knocking over hives before. It could be a problem.

[@BeldingHillFarms]

I’ve had my sheep and cows knock them over! It is always my fault! There is never enough time to get everything done on time!

[@mrdarkside1905]

Nice looking hives and adaptors for bees. Do you have a video or plans to do a video about not being able to capture bees in your swarm boxes? I'd be very interested on anything you've learned in that process. Did you use any attractant? I'll be building hives and swarm boxes this winter, hoping to catch bees next spring.

[@BeldingHillFarms]

I could do an update video for sure, but unfortunately I didn’t learn a great deal, since I just didn’t catch any! I think next time I would buy Swarm Commander instead of using Lemongrass oil. I think probably the biggest difference is my location. Ironically, I have found some bees, but they are in a roof and I’ll be doing a cutout next week hopefully and I’ll get some video of that.

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Where are you located? I’m in New Brunswick, Canada

[@mrdarkside1905]

@@BeldingHillFarms I am located in Southern Vancouver Island, BC

[@BeldingHillFarms]

Since I replied to your comment, I actually caught a swarm in one of my traps! Lol

[@HBKCommish]

Instead of a board to catch the bees that fall. Could you not just rest the frame on the bottom of the hive?