I love my HTBH. Thats all I have now. For me its a more natural way and allows the bees to build or not to build. Yes, its slower because they have to buyild their comb and when you extract you destroy and they have to build again. But its a good way to manage your hive and through a process get the dark comb away from the brood area for the girls to then fill with capped honey which you then harvest. So you are constantly replacing dark comb with new comb. Easy to stand and work. No lifting at all, my roof is hinged on. Yes, its easy to get the girls back down in the hive eaither with smoke or with a fine mist of water.
When I inspect my top bar hives I use a spray bottle with water in it to spray a light mist on the bees when I am trying to get the bars put back in and pushed together and it has worked really well for getting the bees to go back down into the hive so they don't get mashed.
David, if you hava a thin rod (about the thickness of a clothes hanger) you can move the bars close together and then use the rod to push the bees down into the hive, then you can push the bars together to the rod, remove the rod (smaller than bee space) and then finish moving the bar together. You can do it will a string as well.
I've started using a Bee-Down Strip to get the bees down when I am pushing my bars together. It works really well and I haven't squished a bee since I've started using it. It’s essentially a 1/16″ thick strip which is as long as a top bar and tall enough to grab onto. It’s inserted in the gap between two top bars and used to herd the bees beneath the top bars before pushing them together.
I use a water spray too. Bees hate getting wet so they run away back into the hive. If the bees are persistent I lower the bar down against the next one rather than try and squidge the bars together. Another trick is to close one end and leave a little gap at the other end. The bees move away from the narrow end and you can continue to close the space - a bit of spray helps them!
Most states require that frames be removable for inspection. However, in my case and in most TBH the frames are removable. There are probably more Langstroth hives packed with non-removable comb due to beekeepers forgetting to put all frames in or putting a swarm in a deep box and forgetting to put in frames. So in the US and in State to State, as long as an inspector can lift out a frame and view it, they are legal. Honey extraction usually has to be squeezed or pressed out of the comb.
I like what appears to be a 'light weight' top cover on your Top Bar hive. I was very surprised to hear you say it's 'a little more tricky' to remove honey from a Top Bar hive. It seems to me it's much more straightforward than having to invest in an expensive frame centrifuge. With a Top Bar hive, it's as easy as cutting the comb off the bar, crush the comb to release the honey, strain, and bottle. By the way, I use and recommend the "BackYardHive Top Bar Tool". It will make it easier for you.
Hi David Ian a regular to your channel my name is Keith ( kit) I am just. Starting in bee keeping I am legally blind but do have some near vision have built a top bar hive 28 bars and have caught a swarm hive Is expanding well I live in victors AU ❤ your vids and would appreate
Great detail, I'm in Australia but got lots from this video, such as the normal debris dropped at the bottom of the hive, and closing it up. Thanks. One question, any particular reason for having the entrance at the sides instead of front and or back?
Hello David, I have copied and downloaded many of your basic lessens offered on your honeybeesonline site. I am a great fan of what you and your family is doing. At the end of this video you decided to leave the bottom board off. Can you tell us why and when to add ventilation to our hives, be they topbar or L a n g s t r o t h
Mr. Burns, I very much enjoyed watching your video! I have a top bar that was built based on Michael Bush's plans (kinda cave-mannish) where we just affixed chamfer molding strips to the top bars.. We have built another one, too, and this time altered the design to where we can get some screen on the bottom and also seal it off. What size screen to you recommend? Also, do you raise hygienic AND gentle queens? If so, we may be purchasing from you next year!
David, when I open the hive to insert empty bars in the broods nest - is there bee behavior that indicates my time is limited and I should get the hive closed back up? new beekeeper so still a bit leary with what to expect and what is normal and ok. I have a screened bottom and these Italians were hived on April 19th - the bees have so grown you can not even see any comb any more from underneath and they are massed on the bottom of the hive. When I smoke a bit - they dont seem that affected. My bees seem fairly easy to agitate.
I looked on the site and looked under hives and did not find one. Could you please give me the exact link. Just put a space between the w w w." and the .com and it should work
We have two Langstroths here in Sonoma County (Bennett Valley). Doing fine! I find the top bar hives intrigueingly (sp?) simple and very interesting! I guess it's just the harvesting that gets a little more complicated? Please see my MishaBees videos. Thanks!
Yes, FoxNews came out and spent the day on three live beekeeping segments. I have links to the videos on my blog at: basicbeekeeping.blogspot.com/2011/06/lesson-106-festooning-foxnews-long-lane.html
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
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LIFE is precious and honeybees are vital to pollination of both wild plants and crops. That's my primary reason for wanting to keep bees.
I love my HTBH. Thats all I have now. For me its a more natural way and allows the bees to build or not to build. Yes, its slower because they have to buyild their comb and when you extract you destroy and they have to build again. But its a good way to manage your hive and through a process get the dark comb away from the brood area for the girls to then fill with capped honey which you then harvest. So you are constantly replacing dark comb with new comb. Easy to stand and work. No lifting at all, my roof is hinged on. Yes, its easy to get the girls back down in the hive eaither with smoke or with a fine mist of water.
When I inspect my top bar hives I use a spray bottle with water in it to spray a light mist on the bees when I am trying to get the bars put back in and pushed together and it has worked really well for getting the bees to go back down into the hive so they don't get mashed.
David, if you hava a thin rod (about the thickness of a clothes hanger) you can move the bars close together and then use the rod to push the bees down into the hive, then you can push the bars together to the rod, remove the rod (smaller than bee space) and then finish moving the bar together. You can do it will a string as well.
I've started using a Bee-Down Strip to get the bees down when I am pushing my bars together. It works really well and I haven't squished a bee since I've started using it. It’s essentially a 1/16″ thick strip which is as long as a top bar and tall enough to grab onto. It’s inserted in the gap between two top bars and used to herd the bees beneath the top bars before pushing them together.
I use a water spray too. Bees hate getting wet so they run away back into the hive. If the bees are persistent I lower the bar down against the next one rather than try and squidge the bars together. Another trick is to close one end and leave a little gap at the other end. The bees move away from the narrow end and you can continue to close the space - a bit of spray helps them!
Most states require that frames be removable for inspection. However, in my case and in most TBH the frames are removable. There are probably more Langstroth hives packed with non-removable comb due to beekeepers forgetting to put all frames in or putting a swarm in a deep box and forgetting to put in frames. So in the US and in State to State, as long as an inspector can lift out a frame and view it, they are legal. Honey extraction usually has to be squeezed or pressed out of the comb.
I like what appears to be a 'light weight' top cover on your Top Bar hive. I was very surprised to hear you say it's 'a little more tricky' to remove honey from a Top Bar hive. It seems to me it's much more straightforward than having to invest in an expensive frame centrifuge. With a Top Bar hive, it's as easy as cutting the comb off the bar, crush the comb to release the honey, strain, and bottle. By the way, I use and recommend the "BackYardHive Top Bar Tool". It will make it easier for you.
That was AWESOME!!!! I have 4 regular hives right now and after watching this vid I may get me one of these hives.
The queen was on the outer edge at 3:56 :-)
I hope to be ordering my first hives and bees from you soon.
Wonderful video. I built a TBH with a similar design this winter and will install a package into it this March. Can't wait to get started with it.
@Jaskul2
Go to our website: honeybeesonline and you'll see it under beehives for sale
Hi David Ian a regular to your channel my name is Keith ( kit) I am just. Starting in bee keeping I am legally blind but do have some near vision have built a top bar hive 28 bars and have caught a swarm hive Is expanding well I live in victors AU ❤ your vids and would appreate
Thanks so much for watching Kit
Thanks, we raise very gentle bees.
How do you feed the bees in fall and winter🤔?
Regards from cold Norway 😃
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF YOU DOING TOP BAR HIVE FROM START TO FINISH. WHAT `YOUR THOUGHTS ON THEM
Great detail, I'm in Australia but got lots from this video, such as the normal debris dropped at the bottom of the hive, and closing it up. Thanks. One question, any particular reason for having the entrance at the sides instead of front and or back?
Have you considered using a fine water spray to coax the bees back in off the bars?
The queen is perfectly visíble on the edge of the comb at 3:55.
How do you harvest the honey? Do you just cut if right off the bar and use the crush and strain method or...?
hello, how long and wide are your top bar and how deep is your box? thank you sir, have a nice day.
Can I make the hive deeper, so comb can get larger? Or is the reason that it less manageble?
Hello David,
I have copied and downloaded many of your basic lessens offered on your honeybeesonline site. I am a great fan of what you and your family is doing.
At the end of this video you decided to leave the bottom board off. Can you tell us why and when to add ventilation to our hives, be they topbar or L a n g s t r o t h
Awesome video!
Thank you for the video. Great info.
We raise and sell queens and we make sure we raise gentle bees.
Mr. Burns, I very much enjoyed watching your video! I have a top bar that was built based on Michael Bush's plans (kinda cave-mannish) where we just affixed chamfer molding strips to the top bars.. We have built another one, too, and this time altered the design to where we can get some screen on the bottom and also seal it off. What size screen to you recommend? Also, do you raise hygienic AND gentle queens? If so, we may be purchasing from you next year!
I'll be dogged! I saw her after reading your comment. Just pause at the time you indicated and there she is. White dot and all!
How do you shake the frames without the combs falling off? Especially in hot weather
David, when I open the hive to insert empty bars in the broods nest - is there bee behavior that indicates my time is limited and I should get the hive closed back up? new beekeeper so still a bit leary with what to expect and what is normal and ok. I have a screened bottom and these Italians were hived on April 19th - the bees have so grown you can not even see any comb any more from underneath and they are massed on the bottom of the hive. When I smoke a bit - they dont seem that affected. My bees seem fairly easy to agitate.
How do you extract honey from top bars? I've heard that top bars are illegal in the US, is that true or is it State to State?
could not find this product on your website
I looked on the site and looked under hives and did not find one. Could you please give me the exact link. Just put a space between the
w w w."
and the .com and it should work
were you broadcasted t yet on fox?
We have two Langstroths here in Sonoma County (Bennett Valley). Doing fine! I find the top bar hives intrigueingly (sp?) simple and very interesting! I guess it's just the harvesting that gets a little more complicated? Please see my MishaBees videos. Thanks!
At 4:40 he accidentally squished the bee when putting the comb back in :o XD
This is the first Bee Hive vid I've seen and I was just wondering.. How come you don't get stung? Don't you have to wear that bee-suit?
09:34 is that a small hive beetle by your finger
Yes, FoxNews came out and spent the day on three live beekeeping segments. I have links to the videos on my blog at: basicbeekeeping.blogspot.com/2011/06/lesson-106-festooning-foxnews-long-lane.html
most hives are not very agresive some times you will get a moody one but normaly there quite docile critters.
Nice
No, SHB are much larger. That appears to be an ant.
are they stinging you
No bee suit= Impressive
Every time I watch these videos I am shocked at how docile the bees are. I would expect them to swarm anyone messing with their nest.
cheap and easy to build
beekeeping with nothing on, are you crazy?