Mr. Poppleton’s Caskets - New Idea Hive

Rich introduces you to a true South Florida beekeeping pioneer and demonstrates the New Idea Hive that was used by Poppleton from the 1880’s to 1915.

[@PaulCoughlin]

I subscribed so i can see the bees fill it out. Please give regular updates.

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

I intend to. Still researching Mr Poppleton's history as well.

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Should have added that the two week after installation video is already queued up after the frame construction and swarm transfer videos.

[@thomasbroussard3761]

I love it. Keep up the good work .

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Definitely intend to.

[@shawndavey5334]

Great video. I can’t wait to see the follow-ups.

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Several are already done and scheduled. Stay tuned!

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

Looks like a fun project!😁

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Keeping bees SHOULD be fun.

[@joeelam1]

I would love to see your bee newspaper, can you send email copies?

[@PaulCoughlin]

I would like to see it as well.

[@alexandercamilleri1871]

I found the article on internet archive website. It is issue 12 of american bee journal 1915.

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Oh, keep looking, there are many more. The only problem is that he was a contributor to a regular questions column so doing a word search for O.O.Poppleton will bring up more than 50 hits, many of which are just him answering a simple question.

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

I need to understand what is meant by bee newspaper.

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Not sure I understand bee newspaper. Do you mean our club newsletter?. Reading the comments below, others take it as meaning the Article in the American Bee Journal from issue 12 1915. Available from the Internet Archive. There were several articles before and after that as well. The Stuart News did an article on him as well, but I wasn't going to pay to get through their paywall for a rehash of an article his daughter wrote

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Hi there. . . A few Years ago now. Still going Strong ! Needs an annual Re Painting of that Wood to keep it looking nice. It's basically an Ex Large Freezer Chest* with 'Top Lid' that 'has been Upcycled' by taking out the Base Floor of this Freezer, and all the Motor and Freezer Agents / with its 3/4 semi internal-shelf held unit (covered in that 'Silver Film, most Freezer Walls are made of.) Now its just a : 'Thermally Insulated Walled Box and its associated Lid." All upgraded by encasing ex Freezer in (nicer) Pallet Wood on its Exterior. The Original hinged Freezer 'Lid' was "lifted up" by adding a new 'Top' Wood Rim around said Freezer : to allow 'Inner Top Bars' to Cover the Brood Area, with 'Port Holes,' to peek through : using Glass Coasters, (aka Viiewing' Windows.) Allowing a Peek on the Bees, without 'disturbing' the Colony below ! Then lowering the said 'Roof' down once more. . . So all is Secure. I also used Double Deep Brood Frames, so the Bees can migrate up or down each Comb depending on the Season. Like having Brood and a half in Boxed Hive alternatives. . . Easy for both the Beek and the Bees. . . 👍 The Ex Freezer Unit removal : allows an Internal Mesh Floor to exist approx x6 inches below the Brood Colony. With a removeable debris 'Tray.' Under 'this' there is a Storage 'Area' for Hive Tools, Smoker, Feed Tubs etc, accessible from a Lift Up Flap Door on the Rear of this Hive. Where the Beek 'Standing Postion' is. The Bees enter the Horizontal Hive, from the Front (South Facing) while the Inspection is done Standing at the opposite side, at the back, well away from Bees or their Flight Path into the Colony. Bees are kept cosy and insulated from Winter Cold, and or Summer Heat : from those Freezer 'Walls. 'The Bee Gear/ Kit is secure in that 'under Storage' with own access. Nicely kept close to hand ! And, a Freezer was kept from going into a 'Landfill' status.* Do make sure to follow Local Authority (eg Environmental Regs*) on Coolants etc, before you "Recycle any Industrial Item." Am thinking to make a kind of 'double Nuc' Version soon. . . Just awaiting confirmation of a 'dumped Mini Chest Freezer' is 'available' to take and use ? OR, if the Community Centre (ex-owners who left it on Curb Side) Have to follow other 'Instructions of Disposable ??? Hope to find out soon. . . 🤞 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2024 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 As this KZbinr states : As long as the Bees are in a Strong, Secure Box : Following Bee 'Space' Principles. And it has 'one Entrance' yet it can be "Inspected" without to much 'bee' hassel. Then 'anything, almost, can become a "Bee Hive." Bees have been around 'way longer' than : Hives, Nucs, Skeps, even ex Freezers (!) Learn their 'Principles' in order to "think Outside the Box !" 🤭

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

You seem to be indicating that the base is about six inches under the frames. Is there much burr comb to clean off, or do you rely on it to help with varroa control since the comb would most likely harbor drone comb?

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

South Florida Bees often think outside the box and build their hives the same way. Out in the open air on a branch, breaking every rule we make for them.

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

​​​​​​@@southflbeekeepingwithrich It was a case of ...Oops (error) Re internal measurements in 'creating' this Horizontal Hive out of a Dead Freezer ! So far the Bees haven't done any 'Random Burr Comb' in this x6 Inch Area, as : Probably in using Jumbo Deep Frames, means the Bees have enough Comb without them building 'more' in odd empty places. I do also add 'Insulation' Dummy Boards (Block of thick Insulation Board screwed under a Standard Hive Top Bar. This is done either side of the Colony "Nest" in late Autumn (Fall) through the Winter and into early Spring, so the Bees are 'well Insulated' on each side : during Colony Clustering in the lower Temp moments. The Bees have the opportunity to move up these Bigger (Double Deep) Frames as the outside Temps drop. By Clustering 'higher' up on the Frames, they utilise the cosier upper part of the Hive (as Heat Rises in Colder times.) Maybe in time, this Horizontal Hive can be made into a Double Colony : where we add a Divider Board in the centre of the Horizontal Hive. And then add another Entrance at the further side on the South Facing (Front) Wall. A little bit earlier today, I was able to source another smaller 'Dead Chest Freezer.' Locally someone had dragged out 'their Ex Unworking Freezer' onto the Communal Area. (I guess for later Municipal Collection.) On leaving a Message on this Unit, I asked if it was possible to 'Upcycle' it instead. . . They accepted ! 👍 (A case of removing & getting the Motor & Coolant Disposed of Correctly.) After that, this will allow me to have a Smaller Horizontal Hive, using all standard Langstroth Brood Frames. Almost like maybe x2 Nucs Side by Side : with different Entrances. This hopefully might enable some Queen Breeding to be done 'in more controlled' Insulated Hive Setup. Yippee ! Just a Case of Collecting up some Pallets. Making more Internal Boards, with Port Holes (using coverings) of Glass Coasters so the Bees can be seen within the Colony, without opening up the Hive itself. . . Yes ! Anyway : We can just 'Copy' the bigger (Original Horizontal Hive) and see if any 'tweaks' are needed to make the little one a bit better ! Think the Space below won't be there. So Storage of Gear can continue in the bigger one. 🤭 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2024 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Very cool, or should I say warm? Looks like you have the perfect hive for northern Scotland. Good luck with the new smaller hive.

[@Velacreations]

How many frames would you have for the brood nest area and how many honey frames during a strong early summer flow? The frames will have a similar surface area of comb as a Langstroth deep frame, but in a more compact shape. I run horizontal Lang hives with ~10-12 deep frames for a brood area and 13-15 deep frames for honey. The key with horizontals and honey is to harvest multiple times, extract, and return the comb for refill. Good work on this, looking forward to updates!

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

I intend on maintaining about 8 frames of brood, and the problem is that we don't have strong flows at any time of year. Only moderate to light flows. So there will probably only be about 12 frames of honey by the time they max out. I have run both 36 frame deep long hives, and 36 frame medium long hives, Mediums were much better suited to our conditions, but still too big. I have had much better luck with 17 frame mediums that can be supered one level up. See my Hurricane Hive videos. That is why finding someone who has come to the same conclusions is of interest to me.

[@Velacreations]

@@southflbeekeepingwithrich yes, that's good insight for sure, and beekeeping is of course, local, so making a system to fit your location is a great way to go. Keep us updated on this hive. I am very interested to see how it turns out. Poppleton was very skilled, for sure!

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

You will all go with me every step of the way.

[@keithfaithful3989]

That is so interesting, thanks so much for your hard work. Look forward to seeing the results!

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

You are welcome. Stay tuned.

[@eugenesimpson-zc1wp]

Where did you get your background

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

It just fell into my lap. The man who commissioned it did not want it anymore. I think the dimensions did not suit his new setup.

[@KajunHomestead]

Great video, hello from Kajun Homestead.

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Hello to you. I'm originally from Shreveport/Bossier, but have lived in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Metarie, and Sulphur as well.

[@tommywise1702]

Ok, I am interested.

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

That's the general idea.😉 Stay tuned.

[@farmer998]

I have wanted to do this a long time because of gallup you know we need mesurments

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

You guys keep wanting to get ahead of me. Think Layens frame cut down to size. You really don't want to make a one off hive like this that doesn't match up with anything.

[@shawnsullivan7116]

great history but it looks a lot like the layens hives that i run in my apiary. far more productive than the langstroth and a lot easier to manage

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

You are exactly right. They are narrower than a layens and they are 1 foot deep. When asked after 25 years of using these hives, what would he do differently he replied that he would make them an inch wider but keep the depth the same. If you cut a layens frame down to 12 inches that is almost exactly what you have. That video is coming in a couple of weeks.

[@bjornstacy9590]

Is there anywhere I can find plans to make this, I am in North Florida and would like to try this hive out

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

I would not recommend it. What I would recommend is going to the Horizontal Hives website and downloading their free plans for making a Layens hive and getting the book "Keeping Bees With a Smile" by Fedor Lazutin. Why will become clear in time. If you choose to modify it to 12 inches deep instead of 16 inches, I think you would be on the right track.

[@jamesowens2781]

Love to see this work. I have a question getting into making my own equipment do you have a favorite source locally for your hardware cloth?

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

Yep, you are looking in the wrong part of the big box store. Go to the roofing section and find the 4 or six inch wide rolls of roof vent repair mesh. You can get eighth inch hardware cloth or expanded mesh aluminum readily available and inexpensive. www.homedepot.com/p/Gibraltar-Building-Products-6-in-x-25-ft-Kwikmesh-Utility-Screen-Roll-KM625/202093092

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Hi there. . . Nice little 'Honey Story.' And another US Hive, Stateside. I have a "Horizontal Hive" here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 too. . . 😎 It has that 'marked' Yellow Black Bee Queen in it. . . See our earlier other : Chats. 🤭 Its basically a Langstroth Hive : But it uses "Jumbo Deep Frames " within its Cavity*. And the whole 'Box' is basically a [Dead] ex home Chest Freezer* ! Insulation and all. [Minus the Cooler Motor ex. Now Recycled !] Made (pretty) with Pallet Wood Panels on all exterior Walls, and the Floor too. The Floor has an Inner Mesh Floor, and an Access Area 'under' the Hive. To : 1) Keep eg your Tools, Kit in. 2) Raise the Hive (base) quite a bit off the Ground ! It gets Cold, Damp here, and maybe an odd Rat might scuttle by. . . 'Made it 100% Rodent proof.' Plus that extra under Height, means the Beek doesn't have to 'Stoop Low' in doing the Bees ! Save you back wherever possible. Access to the Hive is by just 'lifting' the Lid of the 'old Freezer' that is altered re Hinges, as now under the (ex freezer lid/ freeze box) : Are "Individual Cross Boards with viewing 'Ports' added, by cutting Saw blade Holes, and Gluing 'Glass Coasters 'over' each of these 'holes.' So any Bee Inspection means you can take a 'Peek' at the Colony & the "Girls. "🐝 'Without opening the Hive". . . Just lift that upper Lid, and look through the mini Windows. Simples. 😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2024 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@southflbeekeepingwithrich]

You need to do a video on that one!!! I know Langstroth Jumbos are still popular in England and Europe, but I haven't seen one listed in an American catalog in more than 5 years now. How much space is there between the bottom of the frames and the bottom of the freezer?