My hives....

[duckncover]

Are they the sort that sing ya?

 

[SamG347]

I think it takes around 30 frames....as for supers they aren't really something people think about with Topbar hives...but I might make 2 supers for the hive...one for front one for back. There is also a think called a quilt box.....it is used on Warre Style hives to keep in heat and wick out moisture. Will probably be making those too. The great thing about Topbar hives is the stress on you is minimum and the stress on the bees is minimum. And you don't need to buy a honey spinner/seperator.....all you need is the comb honey...2 five gallon pails.....and some cheese cloth or fine mesh.

 

[gypsy2621]

My Bee experience is limited to a year of wonder at best,
When i first looked at the hives I was like HUH? thats weird, where are the supers lol, I never realized there were different types of hives,
When I got to the last picture the light dawned on marble head, what a neat way to raise bees,
now for a couple questions on these hives please:

What is the rate of disease is it lower? higher?
throax mites and varora mite infestation, is it better controled this way?

Do the boxes have to be treated for the above mites like the solid supers are?
I am deathly allergic to bees and hubby was to tend the hive for me but he wouldnt listen when I told him to treat for varora in the spring, he claimed they didnt need it , lost the whole hive to varora mite. I was crushed to say the least. We were under a heavy infestation in this state 3 years ago, needless to say I am still quite angry about losing them.
Thanks in advance for answers.

 

[SamG347]

These hives from what I have heard....not sure about locally...but they have higher mite counts.....but a simple dusting with powder sugar I think treats the bees. I will also be trying to recess my bees by shaking them into new hives every spring...so that I get smaller and smaller comb cell size. Which should in turn repell the mites from getting attached to bees when in larvae stage.

 

[gypsy2621]

powdered sugar , hmmm never heard of using that , but what a cool thing if it works, varora mites are nasty critters.
when you say recessing them into dofferent hives , what do you mean?
how does that make the cells smaller? Is it because they have to start all over and rebuild the comb?
ugh I have so little experience I could end up making you nuts answering questions.

 

[SamG347]

Yes I think it has to do with the rebuilding the comb. That is the beauty of Topbar hives though too....all comb honey. I think there are some other things that when you switch the hives causes the bees to keep making smaller and smaller comb. I'm going to look into it. I learned this from a German Bee keeper and he knows what he is talking about.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I built 2 top bar hives this winter. Figured I would try my hand at it. Whole set up cost about $12 to build the two.