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exmar Nurse Bee
Joined: 16 Apr 2014 Posts: 28 Location: SE Ohio, USA
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Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:40 pm Post subject: Top Bar construction |
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Hi Folks,
New to beekeeping. Have one Langstroth hive that a guy has been taking care of for me, but due to age he's giving it up. I'm taking over and found another beekeeper who will work with me in exchange for placing some of his hives here on the farm.
I'm building a TBH "generally" per the "Barefoot Beekeeper" plans and dimensions. "Generally" means I'm following closely as to dimensions, but using surplus material I have in the barn.
My question is the actual construction of the top bars. Per the "Barefoot Beekeepers" discussion and other online sources, there are a variety of possibilities for the top bar. Saw kerf with beeswax, saw kerf with cord and beeswax, various wood shapes attached to the top bar and rubbed with beeswax, short sections of comb starter, even popsicle sticks....
I was thinking of a "mix and match" of sawkerf with cord and wax, and half round molding with beeswax then see what the bees prefer. Easy enough to rework the "unpopular" ones.
Remember I'm a novice, am I setting myself up for disaster?
In this area, acquiring bees seems to be only a matter of setting up a clean hive with beeswax inside. e.g. The "Lang" hive I have now was placed here empty during the winter, I noticed the following spring that it had a thriving colony. Other folks have reported similar occurrences.
Thanks for your time,
Ev |
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biobee Site Admin

Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 1063 Location: UK, England, S. Devon
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Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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I think that is a reasonable idea, although I would suggest placing them in series, so ABCABCABC rather than AAABBBCCC as their position in the hives will have some effect on tendency to cross-comb, or not. |
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exmar Nurse Bee
Joined: 16 Apr 2014 Posts: 28 Location: SE Ohio, USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:27 am Post subject: |
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biobee, thanks for the response, will definitely alternate as you suggest. Provides good insight into bees moving into their new home.
Be well,
Ev |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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