Observation Beehive

I would like an observation beehive that I can keep outside that is a permanent home for the bees but for a low price. Anybody have one and are they a good idea?

Observation hives are great for your first year to be able to check on the hive often without disturbing them to much. You may want to look in to building your own top bar beehive. Check out Bee Thinking for some finished examples. There are plans at http://www.biobees.com/build-a-beehive-free-plans.php

if you want a low price, build it yourself. you might also be able to find a used hive, but those come with some risk.

or, if you're persuasive, talk somebody you know into building it.

Does this seem realistic or will I probably need to spend well over $85 for one? I would modify this so that I could put removable wood over the glass for keeping it outdoors.

https://cheapbeekeeping.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/diy-observation-hive/

Benton Lewis wrote:Does this seem realistic or will I probably need to spend well over $85 for one? I would modify this so that I could put removable wood over the glass for keeping it outdoors.

https://cheapbeekeeping.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/diy-observation-hive/

I don't think a colony would last long in a hive like that. the design maximizes surface area to volume, so there would be an awful lot of solar gain in the summer and an awful lot of heat loss in the winter. the bees wouldn't have room to cluster, either. basically, it would overheat and then freeze.

there's also not nearly enough room for a sustainable population in there, or for a good brood nest.

I would go with a common horizontal or vertical top bar hive design. there are free plans easily available that include observation windows.

Thnks! Top bar hive with observation window it is. That would fit my preferences. This will be my first beehive and going to start this spring.

There is an Apple orchard here that has a hive like the window one shown on the link, it just isn't enough space and they have it hooked to an existing hive outside, the bees seem to use it as an auxiliary box, not much brood and not much honey, almost like a Lounge, no work going on.....

Top bar all the way.