Thornes Bivo mating nuc - thoughts?

[drumgerry]

Have been looking at these today and they don't look half bad. I'm liking the concertina DN4 frame and the practicality of that especially at the end of the season. Of course I'd make the wee 3 way concertinas myself rather than pay £7 for the privilege from Thornes! At £47 for a double mating nuc they're not too far off the price of 2 apideas. The latter are a doddle to fill but can be a fiddle in use throughout the season. These might be more awkward to fill but be easier in use over the course of a season.

Does anyone have any yet? I'm thinking of taking a punt on 2 or 3 just to see how they go.

Here they are if you haven't seen them yet

http://www.thorne.co.uk/queen/mating-hives?product_id=5714

[brecks]

I have two in Langstroth / National size and like them. I would like to buy the Jumbo langstroth size which is the hive format I prefer. They are available much cheaper from Germany. If you or anyone else is interested in making up a bulk order I would be interested. There is also an eke available which is used to convert the LS / National size into JLS / Dadant and can be used as an eke for over-wintering.
Look here:
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCcQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bienen-voigt.de%2Fkoeniginnenzucht%2Fbivo-box%2F&ei=neHHVIbzPOOZ7Ab-gIFA&usg=AFQjCNE_O3MT4aoyg7eG8JUb1TOzjz1UGQ

[Black Comb]

I run jumbo LS and would be interested in trying 2 to see how they go.
Pm me if you are interested.

[Bridget]

Those look good Gerry and you can pop the whole lot into a nuc. Could you adapt that concertina frame for the
Apidea you already have?


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[drumgerry]

So....decided to take a punt on them after all.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/drumgerry/Bivo1.jpg (http://s30.photobucket.com/user/drumgerry/media/Bivo1.jpg.html)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/drumgerry/Bivo2.jpg (http://s30.photobucket.com/user/drumgerry/media/Bivo2.jpg.html)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/drumgerry/Bivo3.jpg (http://s30.photobucket.com/user/drumgerry/media/Bivo3.jpg.html)

Bought a couple of the ready made frames to copy as I got 5 of the nucs and only 2 of the frames. Bit disappointed the partition doesn't come out to make one unit as that could have been useful. The little yellow Q excluders aren't in situ yet in the pictures so just sitting in the bottom of the feeders for now.

And no Bridget I'm afraid the frames aren't compatible with Apidea boxes as these Bivo ones are DN4 frames in concertina form.

[Bridget]

I've ordered a couple too. In fact ten days ago from Germany. They don't seem to be in a hurry to send them as I haven't even paid yet. An interesting way of ordering on line but when you are used to eBay or Amazon, a little too slow for me. However I don't exactly need them tomorrow so .....


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[Black Comb]

They quoted me for 4 (plus ekes plus some frames) this aft.
60 euros carriage.
Asked for payment in advance.
I am thinking about it!