Transcript Warre Hives - Saint Louis Beekeepers

Standard Warre′ and Modified Warre′ Hives
Octagonal Warre′
Warre′ Design
• Hive bodies are typically square with smaller internal dimensions
(30cmX30cm).
• A standard Warré hive uses only top bars, not frames.
• The bees build wax combs, without foundation, starting from these
top bars. The sides of the combs are then attached to the interior
walls of the hive. This makes for a healthier, more natural bee
environment.
• An insulating box called a quilt rests on the upper hive
body, absorbing moisture from the hive while at the same time
insulating to allow the hive to retain heat and scent.
• A sloped and vented wooden roof assembly allows moisture to
escape from the quilt to the atmosphere.
• The entrance is sized so that it rarely needs modification.
Mimics a tree cavity
Screened Bottom
Quilt Box
Sloped and vented top
Nestduftwärmebindung
Nestduftwärmebindung
Nest sent heat trapping
Retention of heat and scents, including
pheromones and possibly other volatile
substances necessary for full colony health
produced by the colony
This concept is taken from a book by the Austrian beekeeper
Johann Thür published in 1946. In it he presents the hive of Abbé
Christ which is almost identical in concept to Warré's 'People's
Hive'.
Limited Management, Minimal Intervention
Extracting Top-Bar Combs
Considerations and Limitations
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No costs of frames, foundation or queen excluder
Limited access to brood comb for inspection.
The modified Warré hive (with windows) allows for observation.
Bees like to work undisturbed in seclusion.
Retention of nest heat and scent; better control of temperature and
humidity.
Comb built freestyle regarding cell-size and proportions of worker/drone
Honey stored in comb used once for brood.
No re-use of comb so workers have to draw new comb every year. Helps
with swarm prevention.
Queen gets to lay on fresh comb every year
Considerations and Limitations
• Only opened in the strict sense once a year at harvest as at the spring
visit.
• Boxes are added underneath without letting out hive heat or
disturbing the bees.
• Extraction by tangential basket extractor or crush and strain. Does not
require expensive extracting set-up.
• Evidence from Belgium and France where Warré hives have a longer
history shows that they have Varroa burdens about one-tenth that of
framed hives in the same apiary.
• No sugar feeding, bees left adequate honey store for winter, therefore
time and cost saving.
Beekeeping For All
In a word, the People's Hive is
practical. It will bring happiness to
you and your dear bees, for, in using
the People's Hive, you will certainly
provide the most pleasant and logical
home for them.
Emile Warre′
Learn More
• http://www.beethinking.com/
• http://www.thewarrestore.com/
• http://www.dheaf.plus.com/warrebeekeeping/warre_experiment_heaf.ht
m
• http://www.backyardhive.com/
• http://www.themelissagarden.com
• http://www.ruche-warre.com/
• http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/Top-BarBeekeeping-Method.aspx
• http://bee-folk.dreamwidth.org/13235.html