Author Topic: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013  (Read 14304 times)

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Offline blueblood

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1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« on: December 08, 2013, 03:32:18 pm »
I dove into the world of Tbh's this summer and I am 99% sure I like them.  The 1% still left will make !00% when I see how well they winter over.  My #1 favorite thing about tbh's besides being cheap to build and extract from, is how much nicer the bees were to work.  And of course, I love, love, love comb honey!  Here is my first inspection May 30, 2013.

Took a break from swarm catching and spent some time attending to my yard. I was pleased with what I saw in my first every top bar hive. The bees were from my Eastern Court Shrub swarm 10 days ago. Swarms really do draw quickly! It was very windy today so I had to dub over the video to protect everyone's ears from the wind noise. Enjoy!

[youtube:3p1fpg6j][/youtube:3p1fpg6j]

Offline Perry

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2013, 08:07:46 am »
You just may have convinced me to at least try one this year.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2013, 09:46:46 am »
Well done!!   You have both types of hives.. which do you like best? Advantages/disadvantages?
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Offline blueblood

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2013, 10:40:45 am »
Perry, you have the tbh master Adam there to get ya started.

Lazy, I like both so far but will always have more Langs especially for the purpose of honey production and interchangeability.  There is probably a larger list than what I can explain but here are a few from my research and limited experience:

Advantages:
-no extractor needed
-affordable
-easy to inspect/calmer bees (one frame at a time vs. taking entire lang box off)
-yummy comb honey if you don't want to crush and strain
-new comb is built constantly (helps a little when controlling mites and shb)
-no lifting of heavy boxes, just one bar at a time (good for older or disabled keeps)
-more wax production (candles, lip balms, selling it, etc.)
-don't have to store honey supers
-I like the taste of crushed honey over lang extracted
-educationally speaking, a very good example of more natural comb building and such

Disadvantages:
-Can't extract bars so bees have to start over (some folks have successfully extracted by cutting the comb to fit extractor)
-Comb has to be treated with respect or it will more easily fall off of the bar
-lower honey production
-less interchangeability like you can do with langs
-not the best for queen rearing because you can't sequester the queen as well
-severe winter environments may be a challenge for the bees because bees naturally move up not across combs

I am hopeful that my bees winter over well.  Perry's friend has kept them with success in much more harsh winters in Canada than I have here in the midwest of USA.  The Kenyan and Tanzanian hives are used in warm, dry climates more often.

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2013, 12:29:04 pm »
Thank you BlueBlood!!!
  I do want more wax for the wifes candle business.. so use foundation-less frames..  In looking at the tbh it would seem easier in some ways... If I ever get settled in well enough I may try them personally and see what I think.. Thanks for the breakdown.. I look forward to hearing more as you progress!!
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Offline blueblood

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2013, 07:47:52 pm »
Temps in the mid-50's today.  I was excited to see some bee activity.  The yard didn't let me down.  I see life!  The yellow tbh seems to be pretty active.  The blue tbh wasn't bad but not as active.
[/youtube:3p1fpg6j][/youtube:3p1fpg6j]
« Last Edit: December 28, 2013, 07:49:47 pm by blueblood »

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2013, 07:54:32 pm »
NICE!!!   But....  you need to zoom in decently close and let the Camera run for about an hour..  I can put the heat light on, the headphones, get my Rum and Coke ready... and watch (Listen to) BEES!!!!

   hehe thanks for posting Blue!!!
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Offline blueblood

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2013, 08:05:00 pm »
Right on Scott! Sounds good.  I will have to leave the camera out there for a while one of the next warm days for ya.  Was it warm enough for your bees to come out today?

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2013, 09:11:18 pm »
It was.. but I had an Impatient wife tapping her foot at me when I ran to look...  She counts the taps.. at 30 she gets in the car and leaves without me.....    hrm...  wait...  WHAT was I thinking!!!!
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Offline blueblood

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2014, 08:06:17 pm »
As of March 15, 2014, both blue and yellow top bar are alive and doing well.  I gave each a rap on the side and boy did they come out to see who was knocking.  The video was from a couple days ago of a bar from yellow tbh.






Offline Jen

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Re: 1st Top Bar Hive Inspection 2013
« Reply #10 on: March 26, 2014, 09:58:22 pm »
Love Those Vids Blue!  ;) 8)
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