OK, I've been hit by requests for details on the hive demo cage.
I don't have plans, but I've linked a photo.  I'm unable to post it to my
website today due to internet issues.
We had occasional problems with bees coming to the outside of the screen in
front of the entrance.
I found that they were curious bees from other hives in the
neighborhood, attracted to the scent coming from the entrance to the hive.
They didn't want to sting, but were an annoyance to the audience when they
flew there
I found that I needed to do two things to prevent this:
1.  Do not break open any honey when inspecting the hive, and
2.  Force the bees to enter and exit at the top of the cage.  I built an
extended bottom board upon which I stacked empty deep supers (reinforced so
they didn't topple) to the top of the screen (10 ft up).  The foragers
easily spiral up and down the created rectangular tunnel (the tunnel needs
to be large enough diameter for them to spiral).  This keeps the colony
scent away from the screen and solved the problem.
Next year I plan to try making the tunnel out of clear plexiglas.

> --
> Randy Oliver
> Grass Valley, CA
> www.ScientificBeekeeping.com
>


-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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