Post: # 4496Post
matty
Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:41 am
I have five top bar bee hives, and they are ok. there are a few things to watch out for. Well, before that, don't worry too much aboiut them being precise to the millimetre i have heard all sorts of things about the bees not using them if they are a few mm out. well, bees have been making honey beofre rulers and tape measure were around, so don't fret.
if u are baiting them urself, to get wild bees to come along, be careful about doing this properly. the hives i use have the top bar almost like a "T" - so the bit that sticks down, the "I" bit of the "T" (i wish i could draw this for u) is where the wax goes on. make sure u put the wax only on the lowest part - under the foot of the "T", so the wax is facing down only - if u get carried away and start putting it in the corners, when the bees start to make their combs, they will not be horizontal, or all on one bar - combs will be diagonal to several bars, and when u lift bars off, combs fall. this is as they start on the wax, it is easier. if u can melt on started combs, this is kind of better. I had the guy from the bee place here tell me that if the combs were built diagonally, to take them off and tie them the right way round with string... he was not joking. i decided not to. simply took those combs out and put in a different hive. also, i don't know if u have same problems where u are, but it is worthwhile doing, at the base of the hive, make sure there are no bits of grass or twigs "bridging" gap to hive, and put feet of hive in empty tins filled with used engine oil. this is to stop ants. i had three hives fill up, taking 7 months of waiting, and two weeks later, the bees had all gone cos of the ants. heartbreaking stuff. make sure tehy are water proof too!
but, they are worhtwhile having, top bar hives. collecting own honey is amazing. and u will soon find that bees aren't that aggresive either, u can usually go and watch them right up to the hive without suited armour and smokebombs! and that is with the dreaded "african killer bees" too......blame hollywood for that one, i do. anyway. hope u take up the bee keeping!