The history of the creation of the Vladimir hive, the pros and cons of the Yakimov lounger

Beginning beekeepers are often interested in where to start in this business. One of the most important and significant issues is the choice of design of bee houses. Today, Vladimir hives are considered a very popular and convenient option. They are often used at the initial stages of building their apiary. Such structures are characterized by certain pros and cons.

History of origin

The history of this beehive begins in the nineteenth century. It was during this period that beekeepers began to actively switch from decks to frames. The Vladimir hive was completed only in 2014. This was done by Andrey Yakimov.The beekeeper has improved the classic bed and increased the number of frames from 24 to 32.

Instead of slotted tapholes, he suggested making round ones and placing them in one row. As a result, 5-9 tap holes began to be used along the entire length. This approach makes it possible to intervene in the life of bees with minimal losses.

Vladimir hives are made from soft wood. This helps retain heat inside. Most often, such structures are made of poplar, alder, willow, and linden. The roof can be pitched, gable or flat.

Pros and cons of the Vladimir hive

This type of hive does not require much attention. Therefore, it can be used for beginners or people who do not have much time to care for bees and an apiary. The main advantages of a hive-lounger include the following:

1. Ease of use. This is due to the design features of the hive.
2. Getting a lot of honey.
3. Excellent heating system.
4. Safety of the honey collection process.
5. Possibility of using large frames.
6. No need to feed bees. In addition, there is no need to build an omshanik - a special insulated structure for wintering insects.

Despite the large number of advantages, the design also has a number of disadvantages. Therefore, many beekeepers refuse to use such hives and prefer other methods of keeping insects.

The main drawback of the design is considered to be poor ventilation of the houses. This disadvantage is associated with the presence of a relatively small sub-frame space. Therefore, hives must be equipped with ventilation devices in the lid. This will ensure a full flow of air into the bee colony.

Other disadvantages include the following:

1. Design dimensions.Because of this, more space needs to be allocated indoors for wintering.
2. Impossibility of expanding the hive. If the hive is made with 32 frames, it will not be possible to use more such elements.
3. The need for more frequent pumping of honey. This is also due to limited space. The design of the Vladimir hives does not make it possible to build additional tiers.

Features of use

The use of Vladimir hives is perfect for growing families. It comes down to the timely division of the hive into several parts by installing partitions. So, to strengthen the bee colony, a partition is placed in the hive. This helps force queenless bees to raise one for themselves. Thanks to the use of two queens, it is possible to quickly increase the strength of the family.

Before the main honey collection, the partition must be removed. However, it is first important to make sure that the old uterus is still quite young. It is also necessary to catch a young queen in order to find a new family for her. If this is not done, one queen will be destroyed or both will die.

Self-assembly

To build the Vladimir hive, soft wood species are used - willow, pine, spruce, fir, poplar. These types of materials retain heat well and are resistant to moisture and sun.

The following tools are worth taking:

• stapler for making frames;
• saw;
• woodworking Machine;
• plane, router, jigsaw;
• drill;
• screwdrivers and hammers;
• screwdriver;
• screws and self-tapping screws;
• glue marked D-4.

The Vladimir hive is assembled using frame technology. First you need to make 6 shields for the walls, lid and bottom. They need to be stuffed onto a finished frame. To assemble the walls, you need to use 4 bars measuring 450 millimeters.

When finished, each shield should be 10 centimeters thick. If necessary, it is permissible to increase it, but in this case the mass of the hive will increase significantly.

It is recommended to connect the lid to the body with hinges. It should lean back so as not to interfere with the beekeeper’s work. On the front wall it is worth making tap holes with a diameter of 50 millimeters.

Advice from experienced beekeepers

To make beekeeping a successful business, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. First you need to purchase insects. They can be ordered by parcel or purchased brood from a beekeeper. When choosing a breed, you should give preference to non-hybrid options. You can breed them yourself.
2. Be sure to purchase the required equipment. This will require a protective net or full suit. It is also worth using a smoker. In addition, you need to take a clip for catching the queen and brushes for bees.
3. Buy a honey extractor. It is needed for large-scale production. If the farm consists of 1-3 hives, there is no need for such a device.

Vladimir hives are considered quite convenient devices that have many advantages. They are easy to use and allow you to collect a lot of honey. However, when constructing such a structure, it is important to take into account a number of recommendations.