Friday, February 28, 2014

Building new Top Bar Hives

I have started building a few more top bar hives for the coming season. If all of my 6 colonies survive the winter I will need at least 6 more bee hives to make new splits in May, probably more. I might set up a few as swarm traps. So far I have 5 new top bar hives.
The new top bar hive body. This kind of beekeeping is also known as the Barefoot Beekeeping or Natural beekeeping in Top Bar Hives. One needs no money to build these hives. I use reused pallet wood as main material. They are simple to build and are very much bee friendly.
For those of you interested in my Top Bar Beekeeping journey please subscribe to my bee blog;
http://cheguebeeapiary.blogspot.com/
5 new top bar hives
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4 comments:

  1. Jeff DavisFebruary 28, 2014 at 10:51 AM

    What sort of tools do you use when checking on the bees?

    I've been using an extra long hive tool to lever up the top bars. I was using an old bread knife to cut the comb from the walls, but I bought an opinel carpaccio knife and love it for working inside my top bar hives. It is long, thin, and flexible - perfect for the task in my opinion. I'd like to hear about the tools you use and any tips you have.

    Thanks,
    Jeff

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    1. Dusko Bojic aka Che GuebuddhaMarch 1, 2014 at 3:17 AM

      I use a long thin kitchen knife, spray bottle with a few drops of lavender and a bee brush (feather even better). I use no smoker.

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  2. NisMarch 1, 2014 at 12:50 AM

    Is the topbars made from pallets as well?

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    Replies
    1. Dusko Bojic aka Che GuebuddhaMarch 1, 2014 at 3:19 AM

      Yes. The whole hive is from pallet wood except the roofing material. For the roof I use anything which is freely available and is waterproof.

      Delete