Although lots of people tend to shriek in terror when they see bees, the reality is that bees are great for the environment. Since they pollinate, bees are able to help plants grow. We essentially need bees in order to live in a healthy environment.
If you or someone you know enjoys beekeeping, you know of the importance of making sure that they have a safe environment to produce and remove the honey. Making a man-made DIY beehive is actually a rather simple process and one that you will benefit from in the long run when you see how much honey has been produced and, in turn, how much the environment has benefited.
In this article, we will provide you with several different ideas and sources of inspiration for creating your own beehive.
DIY Bee Hive Plans
1. For Australian Natives
This particular design was created by someone who lives in Australia, which is where the Australian native bees call home. The plans for your individual project will largely depend on where you live and what species are native to your location. This is a tried and tested design, and you can trust in these specifications and measurements to be of the right size for our tiny friends. It is pretty simple, but you are going to need to use power tools.
2. In a Bucket
You don’t necessarily need to go all out and spend tons of money on materials with this. Luckily, this project can be implemented without worrying about making a dent in your wallet, which causes it to be a much more attractive option for anyone who wants to support the environment in any way possible. If you have a bucket laying around, then that’s all you’re going to need. Keep in mind that this particular option is not meant for harvesting honey, but it is meant for habitation. In addition, you will be using a hollow pipe for support, which also has the ability to be colonized. In essence, you can save tons of bees due to all the space.
VIEW PLANS3. The Whole Package
It’s fairly simple to learn how to package a hive once you’ve become familiar with it. When you install the package, you’ll need to get a bottom board for the base, one hive box, around ten frames, a telescoping lid or a migratory cover, an entrance reducer, feeder for syrup, follower boards, and a hive stand. You can also make a sugar spray, which is meant to make the bees feel less stressed out in their new home.
VIEW PLANS4. CAD Design
If you’re particularly tech-savvy, there’s nothing wrong with using the CAD program in order to come up with the perfect design. The author of this tutorial used cardboard tubes, which you most likely have lying around the house, or you can easily get them from toilet paper or paper towel rolls. You’ll also need to make a mounting bracket and a top flower pot with drainage holes.
VIEW PLANS5. For Emergencies
Alright, perhaps there might not be any real “emergencies” when it comes to harvesting honey, but if you live on a farm or some other place where you are naturally exposed to many bees, you might be wondering what to do with them in a safe manner. This option is easy to make and you can create as many hives as you want in a short period of time. You will only need to obtain the most basic woodworking tools, which include a jigsaw, drill, drill bits, and a chisel for this option.
VIEW PLANS6. Langstroth Template
The next option, according to the author, is super easy and does not take a lot of time to build. It will use a brood box and two super boxes. This is meant for a small hive, but you can add another brood box if you want to make it bigger. All you’re going to need is a common board in different sizes, sanded plywood, a jigsaw, wood glue, a miter saw, grit sandpaper, and a router. Keep in mind that you will need to use woodworking tools, which might be difficult for starters.
VIEW PLANS7. Bee-utiful Choice
Not only is the next design plan on our list bee-utiful, but it also makes use of recycled materials, which is great for the environment. You can go to a thrift store, which is what this person did, and find an old drawer and recycled paint. In total, this person spent around $6 gathering what they needed. You will need to make some cuts using the right power tools, but once you’re done, you get to paint the finished result however you want.
VIEW PLANS8. Fun DIY Project
If you’re on the hunt for a good DIY project, then you’ve come to the right place. For this, you are going to need some wood, brood boxes, frames, and a roof. There is quite a bit that goes into building this, such as working with power tools, but you will be pleased with the end result and the knowledge that this will provide some benefit to the government. In addition, keep in mind that this instruction manual includes constructing your own frames, but you could simply buy your own if you don’t know how to make them.
VIEW PLANS9. Observation Tool
With this observation tool, you will be able to see everything that is going on in the hive, which will make your efforts for harvesting much more effective. All you’ll need for this project are two old windows and wood from a local hardware store. The windows can be easy to find; perhaps you can find some on the curb, in your own garage, or on Craigslist. You don’t have to spend too much money on this project, either. The best part of using recycled materials is that it’s not going to be too expensive, but recycling is also great for the environment, which is the entire purpose behind this whole tool.
10. Swarm Traps
A swarm trap is a great way to catch bees on your own, and the best part is that you will only need to find some inexpensive plywood in order to do it. You can hang this from a tree as this is based on a Langstroth Nucleus hive. The size is about 40 liters in volume, which is the optimal size. The author suggests using a 4×8 sheet of plywood, which will enable you to make 3 traps. You’ll need several materials aside from the plywood, including wood glue, finishing nails, glue, nylon screens, masking tape, wood, drywall screws, a circular saw, finishing nailer, hammer, drill, and a spade bit. There are some measurements that you will have to do in order to cut the pieces to size, but if you follow the instructions carefully, there isn’t much to this.
11. Basic Design
This is a much less industrialized version of the design, which is great for beginners or anyone else who wants to participate in the practice as a hobby. If you use a smaller colony, you could end up with anywhere between 10,000 and 30,000 bees in total. This beehive is particularly common in North America and Australia, so if you live on either continent, there is a lot you can do. You will be able to customize it as you want. The estimated budget is between $101-250, which is relatively inexpensive especially when compared to the results you’ll get.
VIEW PLANS12. Simple Instructions
Once again, here is an option that is rather simple and easy to build. All you’ll need is a ¾ board. The manual suggests that it doesn’t matter what type of wood you choose. In fact, you could even purchase the cheapest wood out there, but make sure that it’s stable and free of cracks and flaws to ensure that the final result will last as long as possible. Use waterproof wood glue to keep all the pieces together regardless of weather conditions when you hang it up.
VIEW PLANS13. Fun Construction Project
And last but certainly not least, you will once again have another construction project that is perfect for both beginners and experts in woodworking. Again, this option is based on the Langstroth movable structure, which is considered to be the standard in the beekeeping industry. It is easy to construct and manipulate as it provides the harvester with enough opportunity to change the frames and inspect the process. You will want to purchase high-quality equipment to make sure that the final product lasts as long as possible. Pine or cedar are the most popular types of wood that people use for this, as well as plywood for the top and floor.
VIEW PLANSHow To Build A Beehive
Pallet wood beehive homemade. What do you think? from Beekeeping
Beekeeping is one of the sustainable farming a homeowner can embrace. You may keep bees for their hive byproducts (such as royal jelly and wax) and honey productions. Since bees are social creatures, they largely depend on their hive mates for survival and sustenance.
While buying a beehive will help you venture into beekeeping, you can also build one at home. Here are the simple steps to make a DIY beehive:
1. Buy a Good-quality Beehive Kit
A beehive kit offers the cheapest and easiest way of creating a beehive. That’s because the kit comes with the exact dimensions and materials needed to build a beehive at home. You also get to save time and effort.
2. Order Bees from a Reputable Beekeeper
Buy bees that can adapt to the climatic conditions of your residence area. For bees adapted to all climates, you may choose Italian ones. Carniolan bees are ideal for wet and cooler climates. For cold and wet climates, go for Russian bees.
3. Choose an Ideal Location for the Beehive
Choose a spot that’s far away from humans. The beehive’s entrance should face in the opposite direction that the wind blows. You should also place it under a tree to shelter the bees from the harsh sun. Mount the beehive on cinder blocks to prevent diseases, mildew, and mold.
4. Buy Protective Gear
Personal protective clothing will shield you from potential swarms, bee stings, and even death. The gear should comprise pants, gloves, a jacket, and a veil designed for beekeeping. A bee suit will make it safer to introduce bees in the hive and collect honey.
5. Build the Beehive
Have tools such as a screwdriver, drill, hammer, and tape measure on standby for the work. Follow the instructions that come with the beehive kit as you build the hive. Your beehive should have a hive stand, bottom board, an entrance reducer, slatted rack, deep super, and deep superframes. Other essential parts include a queen excluder, honey super, honey superframe, inner cover, and outer cover.
6. Coat the Top Bars of the Beehive with Wax
Beeswax will help increase the chances of your bees accepting their new home. Once the bees adapt to the environment, they’ll start creating combs and honey. Opt for organic and natural beeswax over artificial ones for the best results.
7. Install Your Bees
Install the bees in the afternoon within 24 hours after having them delivered to your home. Start by removing the frames, top, and feeder of the beehive. Separate the queen bee from the rest and pour the bees into the hive. Gently replace the top and frames and wait 30 minutes before shaking out the remaining bees.
You’re now set to be a beekeeper. Learn everything you can about maintaining your beehive for greater honey production. Feel free to consult your fellow beekeepers for further knowledge on beekeeping.
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!
