Warre Hives - Saint Louis Beekeepers

Standard Warre and Modified Warre Hives and Modified Warre and Modified Warre Hives Hives Octagonal Warre and Modified Warre Hives Warre and Modified Warre Hives Design Hive bodies are typically square with smaller internal dimensions (30cmX30cm).

A standard Warr 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 Nestduftwrmebindung

Nestduftwrmebindung 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 Thr published in 1946. In it he presents the hive of Abb Christ which is almost identical in concept to Warr's 'People's Hive'. Limited Management, Minimal Intervention

Extracting Top-Bar Combs Considerations and Limitations

No costs of frames, foundation or queen excluder

Limited access to brood comb for inspection. The modified Warr 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 Warr 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 and Modified Warre Hives Learn More http://www.beethinking.com/

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