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KÓNYA'S
ROTATING BROODFRAME BEEHIVES
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND |
Apiaries
face serious concerns all over the world. The major causes are well known
for every beekeeper. Agricultural production has changed. Owing to wide-spreading
of monolithic growing and their programmed chemical plant protection,
Earth's flora and fauna has been hurt permanently and nature's balance
has been lost. In the apiaries, besides the formerly prevalent diseases,
new ones appeared to endanger safety of production. Following the appearance
of Varroa destructor mites, a beekeepers lost smaller or larger parts
of their stocks. In addition to mites, some panders (viruses, Nosema
cerana) became world-famous. From the safety point of view, production
and distribution of healthy foodstuffs is a first-class interest that
is not feasible when chemicals are used. Well, there must be a protection
against diseases. Protection can be based on biological methods that
should be safe and efficient to provide chemical-free but successful
production. Economic environment has also changed. For making a good
living for beekeepers, an important measure of value for them that how
many colonies they are able to care for.
12 years ago, Lajos Kónya, an experimentalist beekeeper sought answers
to the above questions. First, he created a rotating hive then its advanced
version, the so-called rotating broodframe beehive. ANIVET's excellent
organizer Péter Váraljai recognized the apiarian value of this invention.
An agreement on starting pilot production was concluded between ANIVET
Ltd. and Mr. Kónya. Then manufacturing and distribution began. Moreover,
based on the remarks of beekeepers attempting to eliminate deficiencies,
design of the rotating broodframe beehive was improved within a short period.
This improvement could be traced in the material, mechanics of the rotating
broodframe beehive as well as its method of rotation and control. A result
of improvements is the currently launched rotating broodframe beehive,
for the use of which ANIVET Ltd. as a distributor wishes good health for
both bees and beekeepers.
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DESCRIPTION OF ROTATING BROODFRAME BEEHIVES |
Beehives
are equipped with nine rotating frames in the brood and an automatic
rotating mechanism each. The surface areas of rotating frames
are identical to those of the broods in Dadant-type beehives. The bottoms
of beehives provide a generous ventilation capacity that prevents bees
from getting in draught although give a satisfactory air change. (Attention:
Even in winter, it should be left entirely free to prevent overheating.)
The exit can be narrowed or expanded, according to the strength of the
particular colony.
Brood frames are made of plastic and they should be provided with a thin
wax layer. Apply the wax heated to 80 d. c. (176 d. F) by means of a paint-roller).
Test operation of rotating parts before attempting settling.
Various honey supers such as Dadant, Hunor, Félkeretes (half-framed) etc.
can be attached to the brood chambers of beehives via adapters. Hives can
be ordered either with honey supers and tops or without them. For rotating
a hive, an additional storage battery can also be ordered. Alternatively,
if its capacity is sufficient, several hives can be connected to one storage
battery.
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| SETTLING
BEES INTO THE BEEHIVE |
As
long as an apiary does not have an established rotating frame, the
most practical way of settling is using brushed colonies formed by
a mass of bees of 2 to 2.5 kg utilizing a new breeding queen. Place
the freshly settled hive in a cool place for at least 3 days. For
feeding, use weak sugar syrup so that bees may establish the frames
of the rotating broodframe as quickly as possible and that the colony
may grow familiar with the new queen. In the evening of the third
day, when bees otherwise will not fly, the hive can be set onto its
permanent place. Go on feeding until frames will be occupied entirely
by the bees and filled with brood and honey. In the busiest foraging
season, feeding can be suspended. In the year of settling, do not
reckon any outstanding honey production (just like with other types
of hives) because of the difficulties of the artificial colony's
generation change. The most suitable time for settling is the blooming
period in the field providing the first significant yield in that
year and the period immediately following it, provided that an uninterrupted
foraging is still ensured in that neighbourhood.
After settling, rotation must not be started unless the capped brood has
already extended. The brood chamber must be provided with a honey stock
to secure safe wintering. In the year of settling, honey supers can be
put to use, depending on foraging.
If we already have an adequate number of rotating frames with built combs,
settling can be performed by the usual dividing of colonies. Settling can
also be carried out by introducing the colony located in the honey supers
to the brood in case there is satisfactory foraging and/or abundant feeding.
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ADVANTAGEOUS
FEATURES OF ROTATING BROODFRAME BEEHIVES: |
The Kónya's rotating broodframe beehive is the most advanced mechanized
hive in the world where the dominant part of human work is carried
out by a machine and an electronic unit. By utilizing it, the number
of bee colonies can be multiplied in relation to those in a conventional
apiary. Consequently, professional beekeepers can attain more income
at less manual work by utilizing this up-to-date technology.
Another great advantage of this type of hives is, at its scheduled and
controlled operation, that reproduction of bee mites in the capped broodcells
becomes minimal. Therefore, chemical protection against mites during the
honey production period is not necessary. As a result, "bio honey" containing
no agent residues can be produced.
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| An
invaluable advantage of rotating broodframe beehives is swarm prevention |
During
a swarming period, colonies will draw swarmcells onto the broodframes.
The circular frames are rotated by 180 degrees per day. The queencells
looking downwards in natural circumstances will look upwards on the
following day. Bees do not accept this situation and chew queencells
even when they contain a thriving larva queen. Considering that they
will be unable to raise a new queen, swarming will be impossible. With
unswarmed colonies, production will be continuous in full force at
high safety. Utilization of fields will be less dependent on process
troubles arising from peak work periods in traditional apiaries. |
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| Rotation
of the brood |
Rotating
broodframe beehives are operated by a battery-powered 12 V motor. They
are equipped with an electronic unit providing a full
automatic control. The electronics is programmed for two speed stages. |
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rotating frame will be rotated by about 180 degrees during 24 hours by
means of the control unit. It happens in two ways, as follows: |
1.In
position "0" of the mode switch, frame is rotated by
about 8 degrees to result a sum of 180 degrees within 24 hours.
(for scheduled confining the reproduction of Varroa destructors as well
as for an early-spring stimulation) |
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2. In position "1" of the mode switch, the frame is rotated
by 180 degrees step-by-step at one go within 24 hours. Each 8-degree
rotation is followed by about a one-minute stop. Thus, the complete rotation
takes place within about 25 minutes (for, first of all, elimination of
swarming, partly for confining the reproduction of mites, a quick removal
of honey stock gathered in the brood, an increase in the volume of broodcells) |
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Manual mode: |
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Move the rotating drum to the desired position by continuously pushing
the button MAN. You can turn the mode switch to the other position
any time and the relevant mode will be effective during the subsequent
cycle. |
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The motor is prevented from overload by a "renascent" fuse
whose operation is acknowledged by a blinking LED. Regeneration time
of the "renascent" fuse is about 1 hour. |
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Attention! There are periods when rotation is not allowed, namely, from the end
of summer until the middle of spring, that is, from contraction of
colonies until the generation change in spring. Rotation is not practical
either in a prolonged foraging-free period in summer, except for the
case when feeding is sufficient. |
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| A
BEGINNING OF ROTATION |
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During
the wintering period and in early spring, rotating broodframe beehives
exist in a restricted position, without honey super. At the
end of March and at the beginning of April, broodcells are increasingly
spreading in the brood. Before attempting to rotation, broodframes
must be relieved of the possible brace combs that may prevent rotation.
You should not beware of this work. By using a suitable special tool
(wide steel sheet), it takes only some movements.
Simultaneously with this procedure, it is expedient to insert to one
side (next to the frame containing honey and pollen, and the capped
broods) a frame containing few honey or opened, unsealed honey cells.
Before closing the hive, start a test run. If the machine operates
well, close the hive and switch to the first speed. Rotation will take
place throughout 24 hours and the characteristic noise of rotation
makes checking easy.
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Rotation
can be performed either in the morning, at noon or in the evening.
No matter when but it is expedient to set it to that time
when the beekeeper supervise his/her apiary. One rotation per day does
not disturb the bee colony. As a result of rotation, bees will reorganize
the brood every day, instead of the apiarist. Bees take apart the remnant
winter brace combs and carry them into the honey chamber or the two
side-combs. Thus, the brood becomes more and more expanded, almost
of itself. The brood comb will contain only broodcells except for the
two side-combs filled with honey and pollen. Never take these away
because they provide the reserves of the colony for the forage-free
season. The reproduction of mites will be restrained. During blooming
of fruits and/or when the first major foraging starts, put a honey
super on top of the brood box. |
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SWARMING SEASON |
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At
the end of April, when rape is blooming, most bee colonies reach the
peak of their development, and are desirous of doing reproduction
and swarming, driven by their natural instincts. The whole colony will
be overwhelmed with swarming fever, will start to build queen cells,
and stop foraging. This process is against the beekeeper's interest
as swarming may cause a severe drop in production. One of the main
reasons for awakening of swarming fever is the dominant number of nurse
bees, which leads to royal jelly overproduction. The main task of the
colony with swarming instincts is not foraging but splitting, and so
they concentrate on rearing swarm cells. Bees cluster by the exit hole
even in daytime (festoon).
For the avoidance of that, besides the traditional apiary treatment,
methodical reproduction by dividing of colonies is necessary. By removing
a brushed colony, the number of nurse bees lessens and swarming fever
will cease to exist. Over-reproduction of population is also harmful
with rotating broodframe beehives. As there are no queens hatching
from the cells, colonies will not swarm. Therefore, beekeepers will
not be late at dividing of colonies; overpopulation is not favourable
for a lively foraging. Therefore, abundant population should be removed
from the colony. During the swarming season the rotation must be set
to 2nd speed mode (position 1) to safely prevent bee colonies from
building a swarmcell. Brushed colonies provided with mated queens should
be kept in a cellar for three days, and then settled in new hives.
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MIGRATION WITH CONTAINERS |
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Fix
the honey supers on the day before migrating. Before starting, shut
the exits, and open the bottom ventilation hole at 4-5 o' clock
in the morning. One person can manage four containers in maximum one
hour. When the transport vehicles have arrived, attach the beehive
trailers, and check their technical status /indicators, brake lamps,
lights, and pneumatic brakes/. Migration is only permitted with a technically
perfect beehive trailer. When the convoy starts, the beekeeper should
escort it. In case a problem arises (accident, traffic jam etc.), the
top ventilation hole should be opened. Organize migration so that the
convoy may reach the new field by 8 to 9 o'clock a.m. |
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EXTRACTING
HONEY |
During
the production season, there are always two honey supers in use and
a third, spare super. Always the bottom drawer is filled first.
When the upper drawer is over half-full, you can remove the bottom
one for extraction. Place the top drawer to the bottom, and the spare
drawer on the top. This cycle ensures that the honey will always be
mature. You can take away the honey supers with the use of escape chamber,
sweeper and blower. Honey collection does not require any specific
knowledge. A properly trained worker can perform this task. |
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| SUPERSEDURE |
The
life of a colony depends on the quality of queen. An important precondition
for successful honey production is that there should be
a young, well-breeding queen of no more than 2 years of age. The best
season for supersedure (queen replacement) is from May to June.
Carry
out supersede as follows: remove the brood frames one by one, find the
old queen and kill her. Replace the frames and place the new queen in
the cage, in a position that enables the bees to chew them off and fasten
her between the frames so that if frames rotate the cage may stay in
place. In two days, remove the empty cage and in ten days check broodcells.
Introducing the queen is more successful by using a queen disc that should
be stitched to the frame so that there may be areas on the surface beneath
the disc both for honey and for breeding where the queen should be confined.
Initially, bees are not able to get into the cage through the gaps in
the disc, but they feed the queen. The queen starts breeding. In 4 to
5 days, the disc may be removed. |
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| Providing circular frames with wires and drawing artificial
combs |
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| Depending on decision, according to the frames on sale, by
agreement. |
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| PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING |
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From
the middle of July on, broodcells should be extended on schedule so that
sufficient number of well-fed young bees may go to wintering. To that
aim, ample space should be provided for the extension of the brood, and
failing continuous foraging a stimulating feeding should be applied.
During the year, rotation of the broodframe hive was uninterrupted unless
a malfunction occurred. Set the cycle of rotation at the beginning of the
year to speed I (position 0), at the beginning of swarming period to speed
II (position 1) then again to speed I (position 0).
Rotation does not support reproduction of mites. Even so, we esteem tracing
the numbers of mites important, because appearance of considerable number
of mites may occur any time in colonies either because of the vicinity
of an unattended infectious apiary or owing to a longer break in rotation.
In general, the number of mites will not increase above 300 provided that
rotation was performed according to instructions. If the estimated number
of mites has still exceeded the said standard, the number of mites should
be lessened fewer than 300 before attempting to grow a wintering population.
(The number of mites dropped onto the monitoring sheet during 24 hours
in natural conditions is 0.2 to 0.3 as an average of several monitoring
hives.)
At the latest, in the middle of August, stop rotation and remove
the honey super. If there is no forage taken into the escape chamber, supply
the tray feeder with liquid bee feed. Upon stopping rotation, the colony
immediately draws a brace comb above the broodcells in the circular frames.
The feed intended for wintering is honey of about 15 to 20 kg. When the
brood is provided with the winter feed consisting of the sufficient volume
of honey, remove the feeder. Fill the escape chamber with a warm, thick
blanket and cover it with the top. It is not necessary to put a side-cover
or a reducer in the brood chamber. In late autumn, reduce the exit hole
and put on the entrance reducer.
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PROTECTION AGAINST MITES IN AUTUMN |
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In
a rotating broodframe beehive, chemical protection must be used against
survived or brought-in mites on one occasion in late autumn, in the
brood-free period. If you wish to retain the ability to produce bio
honey in your
apiary then use nothing but oxalic acid fume or some other agent that
is authorized for use in a "bio apiary". In autumn, perform
mite control so that the average number of dropped mites after treatment
may be below 1 mite on the plastic sheet inserted in the lower ventilation
holes (fewer than 10 mites per colony). |
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