Do-it-yourself thermal chamber for bees – a great beekeeper’s assistant

Every year, hot summers give way to cool autumn, frequent rains, cold temperatures and fallen leaves. A particularly difficult period begins for beekeepers, who, in addition to warming the hive, need to take care of protecting their pets from a variety of parasites. A do-it-yourself thermal chamber for bees will help to heat the bees in order to protect them from Varroa mites, which like to parasitize in hives at the onset of spring.

To protect your striped pets and at the same time cause them the least harm, you should consider installing a special thermal camera..

What is a heat chamber for bees

A do-it-yourself thermal chamber for bees is a box made of wood. The heat treatment process in such chambers is carried out due to the internal heating of air to a temperature of 48 degrees. Such conditions are beneficial for the life of bees and detrimental to Varroa mites. However, the temperature should be checked frequently, as temperature fluctuations can lead to the loss of the entire hive. By the way, the heat chamber will allow not only to rid insects of ticks, but also to comfortably survive the long winter for striped insects..

The main advantage of a do-it-yourself thermal camera is that the work done will bear fruit for many years. In addition, the price of the materials does not differ much from the cameras sold in the store. In addition to this, we independently choose the tree from which the hive will be made..

What are the types of heat chambers

In total, 3 types of heat chambers can be noted, which are being improved over time.:

1. The “Crunch” chamber is made of Japanese construction, it consists of a funnel, heater, thermometer, mesh and body. This design is the first generation of evidence and does not have a rotating design..
2. The 2nd generation thermal chamber is made with a rotating cassette, which will save their owners from constantly shaking the cassette. The only drawback of this design is that the heat is unevenly distributed..
3. The 3rd generation chambers are made with an air heating system. The structure has a cylindrical shape, and the bulk of the bees gathers at the bottom, which exposes them to attacks from the Varroa mites..

Another option is a flat cassette camera. Unlike its predecessors, it has no downsides. The housing houses a single-walled cylinder, and the air temperature is evenly distributed throughout the evidence.

The cassette itself is made in the form of a grid, into which bees are filled with a funnel. There is also a fine mesh in the cylinder, which prevents insects that have fallen down from falling back to the bees.

A thermal chamber for bees with their own hands relieves the hive of pests by means of the fact that when heated, the so-called “abdominal rings” increase, where mites then fall, which the beekeeper can then safely remove.

The main thing is to ensure that the swarm of bees warms up evenly. To do this, a rotatable structure is made of frames in a wooden box. One of the few disadvantages of a heat chamber is that the total heat treatment time is 25 minutes, with the recommended 15.

How to make a thermo chamber for bees with your own hands

The first thing to start with making a heat chamber is the development of a drawing. With the help of the drawing, the dimensions of the drum, the height of the wooden structure, its width and length are determined. The list of required equipment for the thermal chamber includes a fan, a thermometer, a stand for rotating the cassette, incandescent lamps, a fleece brush and a voltage regulator..

It is quite logical that a heat chamber for wood will be made of timber, the size of which will be 3 × 3 cm. You should also purchase several plywood sheets, 6 and 10 millimeters each. From tools you will need a screwdriver, a saw, self-tapping screws, a hammer, glue, glass, nails.

Assembly stages:

1. Preparing for assembly. When all the tools and materials are collected, the drawing is drawn, you can begin to cut the wooden beam and assemble the primary frame. It is important to cut a bar with a ruler so that all parts fit together.
2. Plywood. After the wood, plywood is cut, with which the walls (6 mm) and the floor (10 mm) are sealed. The structure is fastened with a screwdriver.
3. Installation of a window. Next, inspection holes are made in plywood, 6 mm thick. The hole can be of any shape, but must fit the size of the future window. To install the viewing window, the edges of the hole must be greased with silicone glue. It is important to lubricate only from the outside, since the glue, when heated, will release substances that are destructive for our striped friends..
4. Ventilation. A regular computer fan is suitable for the ventilation system. Its installation must be done in such a way that air circulates throughout the evidence. Most often it is placed above the heating portion. For heating shares, we use the above incandescent lamps. The wiring to the lamps must also be external..
5. Installation of a thermometer. To control the temperature, a thermometer is placed in the evidence, preferably next to incandescent bulbs. It is connected directly to the outlet and should be perfectly visible.

When all the minor work is completed, the doors are installed. You need to hang the door on good and strong hinges..

Bee processing process

Three-treatment of bees from Varroa mite begins with the fact that the bees sitting on the frames are shaken off into the hive. First, you should prepare a plastic film, pour the bees onto it, and then transfer them to the cassette.

After that, a heat chamber is turned on, all bees are disinfected under a high temperature (no more than 48 degrees), a new nest is formed, after which it is warmed up and insulated. After this procedure, all ticks will begin to die within 2-4 minutes..

When all procedures are completed, the bees are carefully poured back into the hive on the top of the frame..

How is a do-it-yourself heat chamber for bees – video