I'm looking for a fairly easy, mobile, one person hive weighing system to periodically weigh some hives (~30) over successive months, to track changes to hive weights over winter. Anything that involves leaving the hive on the scale won't work (too expensive to replicate 30 times), and anything that involves physically lifting the hive and placing it on a scale won't work (too difficult to lift by myself).

I was thinking of using an A frame ladder, attaching a pulley hoist (https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_11839_11839) at the top, and putting a crane scale (https://www.amazon.com/Outmate-Digital-Crane-600lbs-Plastic/dp/B01FP085C4/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1VXSX45KKTY3A&keywords=spring+scale&qid=1563922762&s=gateway&sprefix=spring+sc%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-9) on the other end. The scale would hook onto a ratchet strap that's wrapped around the hive, to keep it in place while weighing. Lift the hive up with the pulley hoist long enough for the crane scale to take a reading, then drop it back down and move onto the next hive. 

Sound reasonable? Anyone know of an easier/cheaper/simpler method?

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html