Author Topic: Taking the Top bar plunge  (Read 5895 times)

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Offline Papakeith

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Taking the Top bar plunge
« on: July 14, 2015, 07:02:05 pm »


The local Beekeeping club is having a field day at my farm this weekend, so I thought it was high time that I have a top bar hive for people to look at. Hopefully I'll have it populated by the time they get here on Saturday. Or, maybe I'll put together a package and hive it that day
I'm starting to think that the bees are keeping me...

Offline JUDELT

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Re: Taking the Top bar plunge
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2015, 11:48:08 am »
very nice looking! This is on my wish list!

Offline blueblood

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Re: Taking the Top bar plunge
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2016, 08:49:24 am »
How is this going Keith?

Offline Papakeith

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Re: Taking the Top bar plunge
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2016, 09:59:51 am »
It is currently empty.  I threw a swarm in there  way too late last year.  I knew that they probably wouldn't make it, and they didn't.  what they did do is draw out a bunch of comb.  The next swarm or split that I make will be going in.
As an aside; the angle of the legs is not spread wide enough to keep the hive stable in high winds.  I will be using a dog run ground screw and a ratchet strap to give it the stability it needs.
I'm starting to think that the bees are keeping me...

Offline Lburou

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Re: Taking the Top bar plunge
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2016, 10:26:49 am »
Very nice wood work Keith.  I enjoy my horizontal hives, a lot:  Less lifting.  I always thought that if I made a top bar hive I would cheat and put some partial foundation in the top bar to overcome the tendency of the comb to fall off the top bar.  But, then it would not be a pure top bar hive.  ;)
Lee_Burough

Offline blueblood

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Re: Taking the Top bar plunge
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2016, 11:19:56 am »
Right on! I ended up lag screwing two 4x4 treated posts to mine and burying using rocks vs. concrete.

Offline Papakeith

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Re: Taking the Top bar plunge
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2016, 11:25:54 am »
As of this morning the TBH has new tenants.  :D

I've also anchored the hive body to the ground to keep it from tipping.
My nephew(he's not a beekeeper) actually caught the swarm for me yesterday.  I'll check on them later today to see if they are still there.
I'm starting to think that the bees are keeping me...