Among the many designs of beehives, beekeepers distinguish a stag hive. This is a simple bee house, which is easy to build with your own hands. Read more about material requirements and assembly features.

Design features

The horned hive, or stag hive, is a multi-hull structure for keeping bees. The author of the idea is the beekeeper Mikhail Palivoda.

Did you know? Ancient Egyptians were engaged in beekeeping. In the pyramids, archaeologists have discovered dishes with honey, which for 3-4 millennia has not lost its taste and useful properties.

This is a vertical riser of a block structure consisting of several separate blocks. Horns are protrusions in the corners of each block, which fix them and simplify installation on each other.The multi-horned hive is designed for a nomad apiary, so the structure is convenient to move. It is mainly used by beekeepers who are purposefully engaged in obtaining honey on an industrial scale.

Benefits

Beekeepers call a large list of the benefits of a stag beetle.

• Among the main advantages:
• low financial costs for materials;
• blocks can be easily removed and interchanged;
• the production requires a minimum number of parts;
• to make a frame, beekeepers can even use wood trimmings;
• in such a dwelling most species of bees feel comfortable, especially Carpathian and Bakfast bees.

Equipment

The collected hive consists of the following parts:

• case blocks;
• bottom (deaf or mesh);
• ceiling frame.

There can be any number of blocks in a hive. Usually, beekeepers prefer to make 5-7-hull stag beehives. In each block are placed photo frames.There should be a notch in the bottom of the hive - a hole for the bees to fly out. The slot can be equipped with a latch that will allow you to close the notch if necessary.

Did you know? The four world leaders in honey production include China, Turkey, Argentina and Ukraine. Manufacturers import the largest amount of product into Japan, the USA and Germany.

DIY assembly features

The stag beehive is easy to assemble, so it is easy to assemble with your own hands. Before designing the beekeeper needs to determine the size and materials. On their basis, the beekeeper draws a drawing.

Dimensioning and drawing creation

The standard horned hive unit holds 8 honeycombs. However, this is only a type of construction. With independent construction, you can create drawings for 10 frames, which is mainly for many beekeepers. You can also think of blocks for different sizes of honeycombs and build a beehive on a 230- or 145-mm frame.

The dimensions of the hive for 8 frames of 145 mm are as follows.

Case:

• four bars on the horns - 150 × 22 × 27 mm;
• two side walls - 155 × 540 × 22 mm;
• two end walls - 155 × 300 × 20 mm.

Bottom:

• two side walls - 540 × 100 × 22 mm;
• end wall - 300 × 78 × 22 mm;
• two bars - 344 × 22 × 22 mm;
• four horns - 22 × 22 × 95 mm;
• metal mesh with cells 3 × 3 or 4 × 4 - 300 × 450 mm.

Frame cover:

• side walls - 540 × 50 × 22 mm;
• end walls - 300 × 50 × 22 mm;
• four connecting bars - 27 × 22 × 80 mm;
• three boards on the cover - 344 × 180 × 12 mm.

Material and Assembly Requirements

For the manufacture of a horned hive, beekeepers are advised to use one of the following types of wood:

• pine tree;
• willow;
• linden;
• poplar.

Important! Use dried boards not impregnated with any substances. Wood treated with chemicals is dangerous for bees.

To maximize the cost of work, many beekeepers choose a lining. Mikhail Palivoda used materials without prior planing during assembly, but such processing is not prohibited.

Choose a mesh bottom from metal. This is the best option for good ventilation.

Step-by-step instruction

Build the stag beehive in sequence. First, design the body, then the bottom and the cover frame. For assembly, in addition to wood elements, prepare a set of materials and tools:

• machine;
• self-tapping screws;
• screwdriver;
• clamp;
• hammer.

The work is preferably carried out on a wood milling machine.

Body assembly

Step-by-step assembly instructions for the case are as follows.

1. Cut in the upper parts of the end walls along the entire length of the fold 10 × 10 cm in size. On them, frames for bees are later installed.
2. Attach the self-tapping horns to the front and back walls. Horn bars should protrude over them by 5 mm.
3. Screw the side walls to the horns and end parts with screws. On the top and bottom, they should be on the same level with the end ones. The horns are located in the corner between the side and end walls from the outside.
4. To make the elements fit snugly against each other, tap with a hammer. Use a clamp as a retainer.

Video: DIY horned hive bodies

Bottom collection

The bottom should be assembled in this way.

1. On one side of each side wall, cut 22 x 24 mm folds on the sides.
2. Using a clamp and screws, connect the side walls to the end.
3. According to the drawing, attach two bars to the side walls. Thus, a ventilation hole is obtained.
4. Screw the horns onto the screws so that they protrude 17 mm above the side walls.
5. Attach a mesh bottom at a height of 22 mm from the bottom. For fastening, you can use bars according to the size of the walls.

Frame collection

Assemble the frame cover in this way.

1. Connect the side and end bars.
2. In the corners using screws, fasten the blocks. It is convenient to use trimming from the horns that remain during the design of the hulls.
3. On top of the entire area, attach the boards - they will serve as the roof.
4. For insulation, tighten the lid on the inside with foamed polyethylene. You can also use a pillow made of moss, tailored to the size of the cover.

Important! To protect against the weather, the beekeepers surround the outer part of the covers with aluminum sheets. They are conveniently mounted on staples.

Horned beehives move easily, and the blocks are interchangeable - which is why many beekeepers prefer this design. In the presence of materials, tools and drawings, stag beehives are easy to assemble independently.