Hive Lifting Aids

Hive holding and lifting equipment covers the lifting devices, carrying handles, hive straps, box clips and hive trolleys used to lift heavy hive boxes, carry hives, and fix a hive to its stand or its boxes to each other. It protects the beekeeper's back, and in migratory beekeeping it stops hives coming apart on the road or blowing over in wind and storms. The right equipment keeps both the beekeeper and the colony safe.

Why is hive holding and lifting equipment needed?

A hive box full of honey and bees is very heavy; a completely full deep box can weigh more than 30 kg, and with boxes stacked on top of each other the total weight of the hive is far greater. Back injuries are common in beekeeping when lifting boxes and carrying hives. And if the boxes of a hive being carried slip, the bees come out, creating danger both for the beekeeper and for people nearby.

This equipment does three basic jobs:

• Lifting: Separating and raising boxes without straining the beekeeper's back.
• Carrying: Gripping a hive or box securely and moving it from one place to another.
• Securing: Fastening boxes to each other, the hive to its stand, or the hive to a vehicle.

What hive lifting equipment is there?

Lever and winch hive lifters

Devices mounted on a frame or mast that sits on either side of the hive, operated with a handle, lever or crank. The upper boxes are gripped with clamps and raised; this means the heavy honey supers do not have to be taken off by hand to reach the box below. They are a great help, especially for beekeepers working with multi-box hives, those with back problems and those who work alone.

Box-splitting lever and lifting handle

Long, wide-bladed levers inserted between boxes separate heavy boxes glued together with propolis by leverage. Some models make lifting easier with handles that attach to the box.

Hive carrying handles and clamps

Bar or clamp devices that fit into the two side hand-holds or around the body of the hive, carried by two people holding one end each. They give a firmer grip and a more upright posture than lifting by the hand-holds.

Hive trolley (barrow)

One- or two-wheeled trolleys that slide under the hive or grip it from both sides. They are used within the apiary to carry hives and honey supers and to rearrange hives. On rough ground, models with wide wheels are more stable.

What hive holding and securing equipment is there?

Hive strap (ratchet strap)

Woven straps that clamp all the boxes, the floor and the roof of the hive together as a single unit. A ratchet or buckle tensioner is used to pull the strap tight. They are used in migratory beekeeping for transport, and in windy, exposed apiaries to tie the hive down to its stand.

Box clips and locks

Metal clips or hooks screwed to the outside of the boxes, reaching from one box to the next. They lock boxes together quickly and do the job on short moves without the need for a strap. On long journeys it is safer to use them together with a strap.

Migratory staples and connecting plates

Some migratory beekeepers temporarily fix boxes together with wide staples or metal plates. Because these pierce the wood of the hive, they need care when removed, and they wear the wood with repeated use.

Stands and wind anchors

A hive stand raises the hive off the ground, keeping damp, cold, ants and some pests away. In windy places the stand should be fixed to the ground with stakes or anchors, and the hive strapped to the stand. Putting a stone on the hive stops the roof blowing off, but does not stop the hive toppling over.

How do you lift and carry a hive safely?

1. Reduce the load: If possible, take the boxes off one at a time; do not try to lift the whole hive in one go.
2. Correct posture: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, bend at the knees and keep your back straight; lift the load close to your body. Do not bend at the waist and pull.
3. Don't twist, step: With the load in your hands, change direction with your feet rather than twisting at the waist.
4. Work in pairs: Full hives and heavy honey supers are carried by two people or with a carrying handle.
5. Prepare the route: Clear the ground, the stand and the path at the destination in advance; tripping and falling endangers both the beekeeper and the colony.

How do you secure hives for migratory beekeeping?

1. Close the entrance: In the evening, after the bees have returned, close the entrance or fit a ventilated travelling screen. In hot weather, if the hive's ventilation is inadequate, the colony can suffocate.
2. Secure the boxes: Fasten each hive from floor to roof with a strap or clips; check the strap tension.
3. Load the vehicle: Pack the hives tightly and strap them separately to the vehicle bed. Many beekeepers prefer the frames to lie parallel to the direction of travel, so that the frames swing less when braking and pulling away.
4. On arrival: Place the hives on their stands, check the straps again and open the entrances.

When moving hives, comply with local legislation and any health certificate requirements for bee movements.

What should you look for when choosing hive holding equipment?

Maintenance and common mistakes

• Straps rotting in the sun: Straps gradually weaken in the sun; check them at the start of each season and replace worn ones.
• Rusting ratchets: Ratchets should be stored dry; a jammed mechanism will not open on the road, or will not close at all.
• Relying only on a stone on the roof: It is not enough to stop the hive toppling over.
• Lifting heavy hives on your own: One of the main causes of back injuries in beekeeping.
• Hygiene: Equipment also passes from hive to hive; do not use equipment from a hive suspected of disease on another hive without cleaning it.