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Thread: Top bar hive seduction!

  1. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by gavin View Post
    Ben - the horizontal nature of the beast and the loss of heat surely makes these hives problematic. Why not plan your trip to B&Q around one of these vertical alternatives, the Stewarton?!

    Gavin

    PS You'll be a Junior here until you post perhaps 100 times, no matter what your age!
    Gavin
    To build a Stewarton I shall first need an HNC in cabinet making before going to B&Q. I think I will still have a go at a Dartington for the fun of it.
    If as I understand it's a matter of insulation to keep them warm, perhaps I could keep them indoors with the windows open!!! On second thoughts the lady of the house might have something to say about that idea.
    I wont be depending on the Dartington my polyhives will keep me going with reliability.
    Ben

  2. #22
    Senior Member Mellifera Crofter's Avatar
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    Some time ago I found this design of a TBH that can be filled with insulation. Unfortunately I can't remember where, so I can't credit the designer. It might be better than 2" walls.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  3. #23
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    Are the Kenyans ditching top bar hives? This is not an April fool.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12715806

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    After reading this story I think I will ditch the smoker and use the mongoose method to clear the bees. Saves on smoker fuel!

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    A flatulent mongoose might add an interesting aroma to your honey I wonder if a ferret might do the job just as well?

  6. #26
    Banned Stromnessbees's Avatar
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    Loved the story about the farting mongoose! Haven't heard about that before, despite having seen quite a bit of African beekeeping.

    I'll definitely get my KTB going this year, as soon as I can get hold of a swarm.

    One advantage of the KTB is that there is very little lifting involved. This makes it attractive for people who would have problems with the weight of full supers and who are not interested in a huge honey harvest.

    Actually, anybody with back problems might like working with KTBs as they can be set up at a very convenient working height, so no bending down for inspections!

    I think the bees, too, like the extra hight as it gets them away from the damper air near the ground.

    Pests like mice and rats find it more or less impossible to get to the entrance, especially if it's on the short side and doesn't have a landing board.
    That means a mouseguard should be superfluous.

    I'll let you know when I have the hive populated and how I get on with it.

  7. #27
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    I started last yera with 2 top bar hives. Both have insulated roofs: we are some 150metres above sealevel in Staffordshire Moorlands and winters are cold, wet and windy. We had -19C in 2009 and -18C in 2010 winter. I placed old carpet underlay (cloth type not rubber) on top of the topbars under the roof and both survived...

    It was so cols one hive had a frozen 4cm long icicle of condensate coming out of the hive - from the wall past the Mesh floor. I now have 3 plus 1 TBH nuc. The larger 4 ft one has a hinged roof which makes inspections MUCH easier and I will convert the others at some time over the winter.. All were varroa treated with Apiguard.. no oxalic acid.

    They are carnies so v good natured but swarmy.. so I am in process of requeening...

    I also have two warres as an experiment.. (more to come)

  8. #28
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    I've got a colony that's a Carnie cross and they're much grumpier than the italian crosses on the other apiary.

    How you getting on with the warrés (ooh, I like the new Mac way of sorting out accented characters, just hope I got it the right way) and are you leaving them be or doing any sort of swarm management?

  9. #29
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    Carnies? Well 2nd generation queens are v well behaved - so far. Next year might be fun..

    The Warres were home built - as were the TBHs- and my building leaves lot to be desired.. Gaffer tape to the rescue!

    No swarm control - so already one cast... I'll give them a year..and replace with TBHs.. if not a success.. I opened one up in hot weather and two combs collapsed... think I will go to semi frames to try to avoid that...

    I've gone from 1 hive in April 2010 to 6 now so the learning experience has been interesting... Our fruit this year has bumper crops- whether the weather or far better pollination I know not.

    Trying to find ley lines in garden... I obviously can't dowse or there are none :-)

    Like stromness above, the lack of lifting with TBHs is great.. Warres not so.. On the other hand, I used to weightlift when younger.. but that was decades ago.. Inuslated roofs. make a difference.. Knauf Insulation Board in roof- B&Q...
    Last edited by madasafish; 04-08-2011 at 08:34 AM.

  10. #30
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    I had Roger "do" our apiary, I keep an open mind but I will say it was an interesting experiment when it comes to ley lines.

    The nadiring aspect of warrés on top of the apparent difficulty undertaking swarm management (in an urban environment) are the two aspects that really put me off them, but always interested to hear how others get on with them.

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