The Dadan-Blatt hive or as it is often called the Dadan hive (standard project No. 178-60) is one of the most popular designs of bee houses in Russia. It is convenient for one person to work with and is also ideal for novice beekeepers.
The content of the article
- 1 A bit of history
- 2 design Features
- 3 How to assemble
- 3.1 Building and store
- 3.2 Folds
- 3.3 Diaphragm
- 3.4 Housing for 10 frames
- 3.5 Arrangement of tap holes
- 3.6 Потолок
- 3.7 Roof
- 3.8 Bottom
- 4 In conclusion
A bit of history
The famous beekeeper, from whose surname the name of this hive came, was born in France. From 1863 he lived in America, where he began breeding and keeping bees.
Using simple calculations, Charles Dadant determined that at least 1 empty cells were required to store the collected nectar daily. At the same time, a high-quality “queen” lays up to 600 eggs per day. That is, a productive bee house should contain two honey-pepper, nine honey and brood frames. Each of the eleven frames accommodates 3 cells.
In such a house there is a place for a plug-in board (diaphragm), instead of which you can install a 12th honeycomb frame. Commodity honey bees are collected in half-frames, placed in the store, placed on top of the body.
The beekeeper took the Quinby frame with dimensions 470 by 286 millimeters (47 by 28,6 cm) as the basis for his design.
The Swiss Blatt improved the new hive for the needs of European bees – he shortened the frame. The result was a modern standard:
- the size of the frame of the Dadanov hive for the nest is 435 by 300 millimeters (43,5 by 30 cm);
- and half-frames for a store or store frames used for commercial honey are 435 by 145 millimeters (43,5 by 14,5 cm).
design Features
The hive, proposed by Sh. Dadan, is a single-body vertical structure, which is expanded with a store extension (popularly – a store).
His device looks like this:
In the classic version, the capacity is 12 frames, but the house can be built for 10 nesting frames, which have a standard size of 435 by 300 millimeters. Both options, as mentioned above, are widespread in Russia.
The most interesting point is that in the horizontal section of such a 12-frame bee house, a square is obtained.
This gives the beekeeper the ability to place standard honeycomb frames in two ways:
- parallel to the front and rear walls – that is, you get a house with a warm skid;
- parallel to the side walls – or with a cold skid.
Accordingly, folds are made along all four walls, so that it is convenient to install honeycomb frames in any position.
In the conditions of the northern and middle lane, this type of hive requires insulation in the spring to ensure the rapid development of bee colonies. A mat is spread on top of the canvas or ceiling of the nesting frames, and warm pillows are placed on the sides, simultaneously with the reduction of the nests.
How to assemble
You can make a Dadanov hive with your own hands using the following drawings:
Building and store
The body is made of boards with a thickness of 37 millimeters (3,7 cm). An extension or magazine is half the height. If necessary, a full-fledged body can be assembled from two installed extensions.
Internal dimensions of the case – 45 * 45 * 34 cm:
- 450 millimeters long;
- 450 millimeters wide;
- 340 millimeters high.
Or 450 * 450 * 310 mm with a board thickness of 40 mm. Accordingly, the front wall is 530 by 290 by 40, the back is 530 by 370 by 40, and the side walls are 480 by 370 by 40.
Folds
Assembly at the corners is performed in end folds or quarters, selected in the front and rear walls by half of their thickness.
To install the frames, folds are selected in a circle (along all walls from the inside). The height of each fold is 20 and the width is 11 millimeters (2 by 1,1 cm).
In the outer part along the top of the case, folds are made in the size of 10 by 14 millimeters (1,0 by 1,4 cm). They are used to keep the store snug when it is set up.
Extension folds (mm / cm):
- at the bottom inside along the front and rear walls – width 28, height 10 (2,8 * 1,0);
- at the bottom inside along the side walls – width 18, height 10 (1,8 * 1,0);
- at the top outside along the front and rear walls – width 4, depth 10 (4 * 1);
- at the top outside along the side walls – width 14, depth 10 (1,4 * 1,0).
This housing design will fit twelve standard frames measuring 435 by 300 millimeters. The outer dimensions of the store frames are 435 x 145 millimeters.
Diaphragm
The socket requires two diaphragms (separation boards). Standard diaphragm sizes for the Dadant hive are 450 by 320 millimeters.
Note: If you put ten frames instead of twelve in the extension, the uterus will not lay eggs here – after all, the rebuilt honeycombs turn out to be thicker than usual.
Housing for 10 frames
The dimensions of the Dadan hive for 10 frames are as follows (mm / cm):
- internal dimensions 450 x 450 x 320 (45 * 45 * 32);
- front and rear wall outside – 530 in width and 320 in height (53 * 32);
- sidewalls – 490 by 320 (49 * 32)
- the thickness of the boards is 40 (4).
Below is a diagram of the top, side and front views:
Arrangement of tap holes
The front wall of the case does not reach the bottom by 1,5 cm – the lower entrance is arranged here. The opening slot can be adjusted using the gate valves.
A sleeve is made over the lower tap hole. It is used when cleaning hives in the spring, as well as to increase ventilation.
The size of the top entrance in the Dadant hive is 25 millimeters – this is a round hole made 70 mm (7 cm) from the top edge of the hull.
In stores, the notch is cut in the center of the front wall and has the shape of a circle with diameters of 25 / 2,5 (mm / cm).
Потолок
The ceiling is assembled from boards with a length of 478 / 47,8, a width of 80/8 and a thickness of 10 / 1,0 (mm / cm). The ceilings fit into the folds of the front and rear walls of the case.
To protect the nest in winter, a roof cover is installed from above, which has the form of an extension (detachable frame). Ceilings are inserted inside this structural element, and all the free space is filled with an insulating pillow. When wandering, the roof top is closed with a net.
Sizes of the roof liner (spike connection) in millimeters and centimeters:
- the length of the front and rear walls – 535 / 53,5;
- side length – 505 / 50,5;
- width for all sides – 90/9;
- board thickness – 15 / 1,5.
Roof
The shape of the lid can be of three varieties, at the request of the owner:
- gable (in the form of a house);
- single-slope with a slope back or to one side;
- flat or level, no slope.
Dimensions excluding the liner (mm / cm):
- the height of the strapping at this part of the structure is 105 / 10,5;
- the length of the side walls – 585 / 58,5;
- end – 535 / 53,5;
- board thickness 15 / 1,5.
Ventilation holes are made at the ends, which are tightened from the inside with a fine metal mesh.
Bottom
The bottom is a flap, tightly nailed to the body or removable to protect it from drying out and deformation. It protrudes from the front wall by 3,5 centimeters. The arrival board is attached to this part.
Dimensions of the bottom flap (three boards are taken on it) in millimeters and centimeters:
- the thickness of the boards is 35 / 3,5;
- length of the structure – 540/54;
- width – 480/48.
In conclusion
To make a good quality bee house, consider the following points:
- Harvested wood must be free of cracks and defects. Humidity is not more than 15%.
- The best breeds to work with are poplar, spruce, pine, cedar, linden or willow.
- In the manufacture of all parts of the structure, the dimensions and full compliance with the drawings are observed.
- All details are processed with the utmost care.
- The joints are made without gaps and distortions.
For your information: The main advantages of the Dadan design are the reduction of swarming in comparison with single-body hives, as well as the good work of the bees on the bribe.
Comparison for the curious: Dadant hives for 10 and 12 frames – which is better and why
