Usually the bottom of hives is made of wooden slats, but sometimes it is made of mesh. Let's look at why a mesh is installed in a hive instead of a bottom, the features of this design, its advantages and disadvantages. What size should the mesh be, what tools and materials should the beekeeper have. How to make a structure yourself, how to properly keep bees in a hive with a mesh bottom.
Features of mesh bottom
Several options for the mesh bottom, which is installed in a multi-hull hive, have been developed. Basically, they are installed on small-sized hives, as well as those made of polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam. They have poor ventilation, so the mesh bottom should help solve this problem.
The design is considered ideal for hives installed in apiaries in regions with a warm climate, when the temperature at night is 0...-4 °C, and during the day above zero. At night, condensation forms from the heat generated by the club of bees. Drops flow down and freeze at the bottom if it is wooden. The mesh bottom solves the problem of ice and frost.
Advantages and disadvantages
Mesh bottoms have both advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages can be noted:
- maintains a good microclimate in the hive throughout the year;
- protects bees from chemicals used to treat fields and gardens;
- it is allowed to carry out therapeutic measures in which smoke can be directed through the bottom of the hive without opening the lid;
- improved ventilation;
- maintaining optimal temperature.
- in the spring, mold does not form in the hive and honey does not ferment;
- when treating varroa and killing pests, they fall down through the mesh;
- the net prevents the appearance of late brood;
- dead bodies fall onto the mesh, which ensures the maintenance of sanitary cleanliness inside.
There are also disadvantages:
- mesh is more expensive than wooden planks;
- Moths may appear on it due to the ingress of wax and pollen.
- the bottom becomes larger due to the supports that are installed to support the structure.
Self-assembly
This bottom is easy to make yourself. The materials are easy to find on the farm, the drawings are simple, no special knowledge or complex tools are needed.
Let's look at how to make a bottom that is suitable for hives with 12 frames such as dadan, root and half-frames.
Dimensions
Design dimensions: length and width – 52.5 cm, height – 7 cm (with leg) and 5.5 cm (without leg). Dimensions of the internal tray: length and width - 45 cm, height 5 cm. When installing a structure with such dimensions, a space of 2-2.5 cm will be created under the frames, ensuring good ventilation.
Required tools and materials
It must withstand moisture to last long. The metal mesh is not damaged by predators and other insects. The mesh cell size is 2 by 2 mm, the wire should be 0.5 mm thick. You will need wooden planks made of pine with walls 35 mm thick and a sheet of plywood from which the damper will be made. You will also need to take tools: a screwdriver, angles and screws.
Manufacturing instructions
The sequence of making a mesh frame with your own hands is simple:
- Boil the workpieces in paraffin or wax so that the wood does not rot during use.
- Assemble the lower frame from the bars, connect them at the corners with corners and screws.
- Place a mesh on it, the size of which should match the dimensions of the frame.
- Press it on top with bars and fasten them with screws.
- Place 4 wooden corners on the sides for the flap.
The mesh bottom for the hive is ready.
How to properly keep bees in a hive with a mesh bottom
The rules for keeping bees in hives with such a bottom are almost no different from keeping bees in standard hives. But there are a few features you need to know. During wintering of bees, the plywood damper must be closed.When the queen begins to lay eggs, the bottom also needs to be covered so that the heat does not escape. But when the first bees appear on the entrance, the damper must be removed.
At the end of winter, when the brood appears, the net must be closed so that the temperature inside rises. In the spring, you need to clean the mesh from debris and dirt, wax crumbs, and dead debris that have accumulated there during the winter season. Moreover, you need to not only clean the top, but unwind the slats, remove the mesh, clean in the corners (where most debris accumulates), and then twist everything back together. In addition to cleaning, you will need to disinfect the structure and dry it.
Bees can overwinter in hives with mesh bottoms both indoors and outdoors. If they are placed outside, the lid does not have to be solid to retain heat. But you need to make small holes in the corners and plug them with moss. Canvas is not used in hives with mesh bottoms for the winter.
The bottom of the hive plays the same role as the foundation of the house. It is useful and gives the beekeeper many advantages. A mesh bottom can be purchased, but you can also buy it yourself from the simplest materials at hand. The mesh creates and maintains conditions and a microclimate that becomes as close to natural as possible.
In addition to supporting the microclimate, the bottom ensures the stability of the entire structure and protects the internal parts of the hive from dampness and mold that appears as a result. It removes water vapor and keeps the center dry without effort. Air flows freely through the holes. Warmth and dryness promote the health of the bee colony and increase productivity. It is recommended to install such bottoms in southern regions, where in winter bees are more likely to suffocate rather than freeze.
