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Martin
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Joined: 16 Sep 2007
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 Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject: First top bar hive inspection |
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Decided it was about time I had a quick look to see how my ladies had settled into their top bar hive - they've now been in residence for 17 days - I reckon I've got hold of some good comb builders!
View from the right hand side of the hive with board removed
a typical "full" comb - photographed with camera in one hand, top bar in the other!
So far, there are 6 "fills the space" combs, and the two part ones in the first picture - added 3 more top bars. So far no cross-combing at all! (fingers crossed)
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wildgarlic
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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Looking good!!
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Diana
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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That's looking very good. Eggs and brood yet?
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Martin
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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having squinted carefully - yes - and some honey! 
Chuffed to bits - I was bowled over as to how placid they were - had the smoker ready, but all I used were a couple of sprays of water with a teaspoonful of cider vinegar in to persuade them not to boil up between the top bars when I was replacing a couple of them - in retrospect, I could have done without that if I'd been a touch more patient....
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Smooth Hound
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Location: near turriff
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| looking good |
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Forget-me-Not
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Joined: 25 Jan 2008
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Location: Insch
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: Bees |
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Wow, what a wonderful thing to be able to enjoy.
Beth
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Martin
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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It's great! I'm firmly of the opinion that most people, if sufficiently determined could do the same - it's possible to build a perfectly usable top bar hive for a pound or two, and you can get all the other "bits" really cheaply.
I've so far spent under £100 all-in, (around £35 on wood, screws etc), and have managed to make 2 hives (one top bar, one Warré) with pretty minimal woodworking skills - £9 for hat and veil, £19 for a white boiler suit (bit pricey that! - you could get it a lot cheaper), £10 for a secondhand smoker, and £4 for a home-made hive tool (you could use a screwdriver), and a tenner to the "swarm man" for petrol for the first swarm.........(and nick 'er indoors' Marigolds)
You could do it "in town", often urban areas are better than the "green chemicalised concrete" of the countryside - some people put them on their roof, or garage/shed roof.......
The most helpful site - http://www.biobees.com - free downloadable hive plans, and a really friendly forum!
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