Barrys Bees
New Bee
I am just getting started in Bee keeping and wanted to know the difference between a National and WBC hive and also wanted the plans and sizes of both as I am going to make my first hive.many thanks Barry
National or BWC
- Thread starter Barrys Bees
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The frames are the same however the boxes are not. Bees do equally well in both (I've got some of each). There's a lot more wood in a WBC which adds to the cost and the inspection time. If you enjoy making hives, then you'll get double the fun with a WBC!
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The national is better suited to ww2 wood shortages.
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Google for beehive plans and you will find more than you can handle. Best starter would be a National and the Dave Cushman website would be the place to go to start with. Also have a look at http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=35318 on this forum.
For want of a better word
Queen Bee
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Biggest problem with WBC's hives ... is that they do not come in polly!!
Yeghes da
Yeghes da
Nakedapiarist
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WBCs look lovely, I used one this year as emergency swarm housing. The double wall is a pain in the bum when you're checking the colony though.
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WBC's will be a real PITA to make, regardless of your level of carpentry skills, the brood chamber is slightly smaller than the national (10 frames instead of 11) which can be an issue depending on what bees you end up keeping in them. If you are determined on going DIY on your first hive - build a national.
masterBK
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National boxes fit inside WBA outers so why make WBC inner boxes?
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WBCs look nice, always stuck me there was just more stuff to store.
As above nice to look at but there's enough work to do in national alone. I'm a time served joiner 27yrs exper & plenty of machinery but I can't be doing with WBC's as I have spent enough time building nationals just to have kit in stock ready for the swarmy blighters. If you are retired time may not be such an issue.
If you fancy the extra protection the wbc offers just add celotex bonnets in the cold seasons
If you fancy the extra protection the wbc offers just add celotex bonnets in the cold seasons
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