Combo and Long Hives
Use standard equipment. Maximize honey production. Minimize physical labor.
Combo Long Hive with Deep Supers and Migratory Lid.
My combo hive is a cross between a long hive and a standard hive. It has many advantages of both. Two supers, back to back, can set on top of it. This hive is managed horizontally and vertically.
Deep frames are used. Starter strips or at least small cell foundation could be used near the entrance. An unfoundation approach might work best throughout the long hive if natural comb is desired. A cloth inner cover gives the bees some privacy and functions much like the solid barrier created by the top bars in a top bar hive. A split lid allows conventional supers to used. Standard migratory lids work great for this purpose. Minimal lifting is possible if supers aren't stacked above the broodnest.
This combo hive is my best honey producer. Barry Birkey, who runs a similar hive, has observed the same thing. I think more bees are exposed to empty comb, directly above the broodnest, in a supered long hive. This stimulates heavy foraging.
I've run five or six deep supers above this hive. That requires placing supers above the broodnest negateing one advantage of a long hive, a freely accessible broodnest. That's where a three box long combo works better.
Two Box Combo Hive
This hive accomodates two standard boxes set side by side.
Two Box Combo Hive.
Three Box Combo Hive
When a combo hive is managed exclusively as a long hive without supers, a three box long combo works better than the two box version. It's easier to work. And more flexible to manage than a two box model.
To build a three box combo hive, just extend the bottom and side lengths from 31 inches to 47 1/4 inches.
Plans
Google Sketchup is a free 3D CAD program. It has a very intuitive interface and is quickly mastered. With it you can enlarge, rotate, manipulate, measure, section, and edit my Long Combo Hive Sketchup File in any fashion you choose.
If you like the design, but want different dimensions. Just rescale it in Sketchup. You can stretch or squeeze it anyway you like
Different hive components are drafted on different layers which can be viewed, printed or not.
Enjoy!