Unboxing my first Layens hive | Horizontal hive

[@oneeyehives]

Hello from Central PA. I’ve been running exclusively Layen’s hives and going into my 5th year. Hopefully if the weather cooperates or swarm season is good I’ll be doubling from 15 to 30 hives this spring. I’m running the 20 frame insulated hives. I build all my own equipment from the free plans on Dr. Leo’s site. While all beekeeping is local I will say that in my opinion you’ll probably have to manager that 14 frame more frequently than you think. I have found that an over wintered hive will fill a 20 frame by mid June. For me a 14 frame would just be a swarm generator. The queen seems to lay out much further than I had expected sometimes even to the 15th frame which just makes them grow tremendously. I have found that having a single 3/8” slot 4” entrance to be the best. Give great defense ability to the hive as well as eliminating the need for an entrance reduce in fall winter since mice cannot get in. I do understand your dilemma with have langstroth equipment which I never had since I started with Layen’s after deciding that lifting boxes all the time was for the birds 😂 Trust me, if you have bear issues those two little clasps held on by a nail will not stop a bear. I had a bear hit my 1st hive 3 times and he ripped the lid off like it was paper. I now use ratchet straps. Learned the hard way. Although he never touched the frames once he got the lid off. Just flipped it around like it was a toy. Hive survived no problem. I do not understand the super thought as that is why you have Langstroth hives. Supering a horizontal hive totally defeats the purpose but who know something I might try but leaving the lid up is recipe for SHB and wax moths along with all the other critters to get in not to mention rain and taking away the hives ability to regulate the hive environment. Sorry for the long post as I could go on for a long time. If you want to ask any questions or hear more of my experiences please reach out.

[@fiveacreshoneyfarm]

There’s so much good info here!! Thanks for sharing all your thoughts. How did you set up your first Layens? I’ve had a big fail trying to move some of the Langstroth comb over. I also moved my best queen and some brood and they didn’t survive a week in the Layens. 😞

[@MitchFaircloth]

There are multiple videos online that shows you how to convert / incorporate your Langstroth frames into the Layen's frames.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

That is so cool I'm going to order one maybe 5 lol .. love your channel glad I found you.. they are definitely priced to sell looking at those swarm traps very cool . I'm in Michigan and layens hives are kinda popular I could definitely sell them in nucs .. just ordered 3 VP VSH breeders like 1.300 had great results with those vp F1 last year very resistant and could watch them remove those sick greasy looking bees ..

[@fiveacreshoneyfarm]

That’s great to hear. I’m hoping to get the Layens set up as a swarm trap this weekend. If it’s still vacant in a few weeks I’m going to try and split one of my colonies into it.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

@@fiveacreshoneyfarm just had that scientist developer of that new AFB vaccine said it's also 83% effective on deformed wing virus. I'm like sign me up

[@iowalayensbeekeeping]

They left it for you to tighten the frame wires before you put the foundation wax on. Have fun. I have 12 Layens colonies this winter.

[@fiveacreshoneyfarm]

Awesome! I started getting the wax in and see exactly what you mean about the wire. How long have you been running Layens hives?

[@iowalayensbeekeeping]

@@fiveacreshoneyfarm This will be year 5. I build all my hives. 12 colonies going into winter. I used BetterComb and a package my first colony.

[@laurenceallen2670]

your volume is terrible can't hear you

[@fiveacreshoneyfarm]

Thanks for letting me know. 🙏🏻 I’ll make sure the CC are clear in the next few days. I’ll have follow up videos as I get the hive set up with bees and will double-check audio for those.