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top bar hives

2572 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  HAB, 
Charles
Any TBH enthusiasts on the board?
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L
I will probably build one before Spring. If Afrikans can handle those bees with them, there has got to be something worth looking into .Suddenly, making a whole hive in a day will be a breeze. Now, I like that idea.
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I
The first time you pull a frame and tilt it to the side just a bit, post back here how you like a foot covered with bees and comb. :shock: :mrgreen:
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J
while working with a top bar hive requires a bit more care and finesse than working with a lang hive, I think that the natural way that bees build a hive is much more interesting. We can learn a lot by letting the bees do their thing as nature intended. Working a top bar hive is a step back to nature. It requires the care and attention that the industrialized methods of beekeeping have erased.

justgojumpit
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Charles
Just in reading, the TBH seems to be the hive of choice for the urban beek. Is there a reason for that or am I mistaken?
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J
I think the top bar hive is the hive of choice not necessarily for the urban beekeeper, but for the beekeeper who is interested in keeping bees the natural way, and getting away from all of the industrialization that has been incorporated into the beekeeping industry over the years. Working with top bar hives allows the beekeeper to monitor the bees in a less forced way, and also created the opportunity to learn about how bees naturally build their broodnests and support their colony. While producing slightly less honey, the top bar hive can be much better managed for small cell size to control mite infestations than a lang hive with regular sized foundation. Basically, if you are interested purely in honey, go with the lang hive. if you are interested in beekeeping for the experience and your interest in natural colony development and a return to nature, go with the top bar hive.

justgojumpit
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Charles said:
Just in reading, the TBH seems to be the hive of choice for the urban beek. Is there a reason for that or am I mistaken?
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You're right. :lol: Just in reading. ;)

Aw, I don't know though, I've considered building one to put at my Mom's house. She loves her comb honey.
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Bee Catcher said:
The first time you pull a frame and tilt it to the side just a bit, post back here how you like a foot covered with bees and comb. :shock: :mrgreen:
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Well, I've done the same when I started out with foundationless comb even in frames, and I almost did the same with a frame of heavy-but-only-partially-drawn-and-connected (not cross-wired) foundation. We all make our mistakes. :oops:
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Charles
Good info, thanks guy's. I think once we sell this place and get into a new smaller place I'll have to give one of these a try...
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C
I am most certainly a top bar hive fanatic. A wonderful resource for all things top bar is http://www.biobees.com

I'm in the process of building 20 top bar hives myself to be placed throughout the Portland Metro area. :)

Matt
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H
TBHs and Long Hives are both really cool hives and are a lot easier to work with. :D
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H
Got four Langs with Bees (One Full of Italians, two 3/4 full of an unknown type Bee, one 1/2 full of unknown type Bee.)

One Italian Nuc with Queen Cells due to hatch Saturday, when finished going in a Long Lang.

Six new Langs assembled.

Four new Nucs assembled.

Material for another Long Lang.

A Feral Hive on my farm in an Oak about 3/4 mile from the house. Got two swarms from it last year.

And the "Beeking Fever" so bad it hurts!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
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