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This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the straw badge in Animal Care.

For this BB, you will set up a Holzer bee hive!

Relevant Threads:
- Holzer Style Log Bee Hive
- Keeping Bees in Log and Skep (Woven) Hives
- Bee Huts


(source: Holzer Style Log Bee Hive)

Minimum Requirements for this BB:
- must be a Holzer bee hive

To document your completion, provide proof of the following as pics or video (less than two minutes):
     - materials to build a Holzer bee hive
     - progress of building a Holzer bee hive
     - completed Holzer bee hive
COMMENTS:
 
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Posts: 15505
Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
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I made one of these this summer from a big white pine my neighbor had cut down.  The hard part was getting the log home.  I cut it to 5' long and rolled it 400 yards home.  Lots of interesting comments from the cars driving by...

I wanted to have at least 4" of wood between the bees and the cold air so I cut out a squareish cavity with the corners 4" from the outside.  On average it has more like 5.5" of insulation.  I made a hinged top and the whole thing screws together with lag bolts.  We have bears around here so I couldn't set it on the ground.  And I don't want to deal with an electric fence.  So I mounted it to beefy posts (3) that will hopefully keep a bear from messing with it.  The weak spot is the lid and it's about 9' off the ground.  I don't think I could rip it off with a 2' crow bar.

I made removable top bars and some permanent lower bars so the bees can make comb however they want.
Log-on-the-left-with-top-cut-off.jpg
Log on the left with top cut off
Log on the left with top cut off
Cut-in-half-with-marks-on-end-for-where-the-recess-will-be-cut.jpg
Cut in half with marks on end for where the recess will be cut
Cut in half with marks on end for where the recess will be cut
After-much-struggle-the-cavities-are-cut.jpg
After much struggle, the cavities are cut
After much struggle, the cavities are cut
Figuring-out-the-angle-of-the-lag-bolts.jpg
Figuring out the angle of the lag bolts
Figuring out the angle of the lag bolts
Bolted-together-and-top-bar-recesses-are-cut.jpg
Bolted together and top bar recesses are cut
Bolted together and top bar recesses are cut
Top-is-hinged-on-th-eside-and-latched-in-two-other-spots.-Some-bark-removed.jpg
Top is hinged on th eside and latched in two other spots. Some bark removed
Top is hinged on th eside and latched in two other spots. Some bark removed
Top-bars-prewaxed-with-beeswax.jpg
Top bars prewaxed with beeswax
Top bars prewaxed with beeswax
Screws-to-lift-top-bars-out-bark-removed.jpg
Screws to lift top bars out, bark removed
Screws to lift top bars out, bark removed
Lower-bars-installed.jpg
Lower bars installed
Lower bars installed
Installed.-Bent-post-on-right-matched-the-curve-of-the-hive-).jpg
Installed. Bent post on right matched the curve of the hive :)
Installed. Bent post on right matched the curve of the hive :)
Staff note (Mike Barkley) :

I certify this BB is complete.

 
This tiny ad has a self esteem problem. Too much self esteem.
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