Bee keeping

[Life is Good!]

Your TBH is beautiful! I have Les Crowder's book and several TBH plans, and I think I could build one (not any worse than a chicken coop...right...) so I am getting some lumber and messing about next week with this. The window...I want one of those too!

The windows were ESSENTIAL in my viewpoint. The whole point of this endeavor was to be able to see what the bees were up to! How can I see anything without windows?

I put four windows (2 each side) - much like you'd build a storm window. I cut a groove in each side of the boards and slipped a piece of plexi into it. (tongue and groove like you'd build for a panel door).

The thing I'd do differently - for the ones I'll build this spring's use - is to make the windows flush on the inside of the hive. The bees have used the little ledge (2mm) to build attachments for their combs! If the window is flush with the interior, then the follower board is also flush, so the bees don't skip around the follower board and start building in the back of the hive!

My sons enjoy looking in the windows to see what they're up to. Now that it's cold out here, it's good to be able to see the cluster and make sure they're doing ok.

 

[SunnySkies]

The windows were ESSENTIAL in my viewpoint.  The whole point of this endeavor was to be able to see what the bees were up to!  How can I see anything without windows?

I put four windows (2 each side) - much like you'd build a storm window.  I cut a groove in each side of the boards and slipped a piece of plexi into it.  (tongue and groove like you'd build for a panel door).

The thing I'd do differently - for the ones I'll build this spring's use - is to make the windows flush on the inside of the hive.  The bees have used the little ledge (2mm) to build attachments for their combs!  If the window is flush with the interior, then the follower board is also flush, so the bees don't skip around the follower board and start building in the back of the hive!

My sons enjoy looking in the windows to see what they're up to.  Now that it's cold out here, it's good to be able to see the cluster and make sure they're doing ok.

I see what you mean...use a router to create a place to lay the window in versus sliding it in a groove. We have a router here somewhere...

 

[Life is Good!]

I see what you mean...use a router to create a place to lay the window in versus sliding it in a groove. We have a router here somewhere...

Exactly - then using some sort of framer's points to hold the glass or plexi into place - like you would with an old-fashioned window.

I debated between using glass vs. plexi. I went with plexi because of ease of use. Plus, even though I might scratch it up scraping off attachment points on the plexi - I know it'll NEVER break! I've dropped my hive tool into the plexi a time or two and thought, 'oh, no!' - but it won't ever break, unlike glass might by doing the same thing.

Happy building!

 

[GUERRERA ABEJA]

The Top Bar style this seems to me to be more simplified.

Not always.

These are the new top bar hives "warrior bee"

that a trial'm making.

These made only for the comfort of the bees!

In nature there are no longer trocos hollow trees.

What do think?

 

[chickenstricken]

ordered my package today

 

[CSWolffe]

This is the start of my third year keeping bees, and as of right now have 100% survival rate! All four hives made it through the winter. I say that speaks volumes about natural keeping practices! In fact, one of my Top Bars is doing so well, I'm about to do a split this week, and it's weeks from swarm season, but they've allready filled the entire hive!

 

[whtdragn]

I would be interested to know if this works. I love the idea of top bar hives and may try and build one.

 

[whtdragn]

Very good. I have to be careful my wife is allergic but I have 2 acres to work with so can be way at the back of the property.

 

[OwlandBear]

We've been keeping bees for about 15 years; we've had as many as 9 hives and as few as 2. Beekeeping is a very rewarding endeavor, but can be heartbreaking as well. Of those 15 years we've harvested honey half a dozen times; between not enough rain (the nectar plants die out too quickly), too much rain (which encourages hive beetles and other beasties), wax moths and hive beetles, it just doesn't happen some times.

Check with your local extension office. Ours offered a beekeeping course and gave us contacts from which to get our first bees. We get our supplies from W.T. Kelley Beekeeping Supply and have been very happy with their merchandise.

And it's work, make no mistake. But even if you're sweating in your suit and veil in the sweltering August sun, the humming from a contented box 'o bugs and the promise of pure honey is pretty good motivation.

 

[PeckPeckChick]

Welcome to the wonderful world of bee and chicken keeping!!! Chickens love to eat things called wax moths the grow inside the beehive too!