Build A Top Bar Hive
The top bar hive is the oldest and most commonly used hive style in the world.
Build a top bar hive. Mar 22 2015. A top bar bee box has bars from which the honey bees attach and hang the wax comb an array of hexagon six sides cells. Measurements and sizing will vary depending on the size of beehive you choose to build. How the bars fit in the body of the hive.
Cut the cedar to the appropriate size depending on the size you have. For many top bar beekeeping is preferable because it focuses more on the natural state of the bees rather than the production of honey. Here are the plans and parts list you can drag to your desktop and open to print. What makes a top bar hive a top bar hive is that the top of the hive is made of bars.
Honeybees naturally move up throughout the winter to consume foods to survive. From each bar bees build comb dangling down into the hive. Many beekeepers believe that keeping things more natural will help limit honey bees dying from mites and other pests. For top bar hives once you are ready to harvest the honey you have to scrape the entire comb from the bar requiring that the bees build the comb back up.
The idea that the bees can draw a. Generally the bars are a wooden wedge or strip with a guide to ensure combs hang straight. Some would argue that this keeps the bees healthy and active due to the additional work but it does mean that you will get less honey from a top bar hive. The top bar hive is designed for the bees to move side to side through the winter.
Top bar hives allow bees to build comb in a natural way. You can also print the complete design plans and parts list which is posted below to build your own hive. Purchase the cedar wood needed to build your top bar beehive. The bees have a free hand at building their own comb and making the cells the size they want to make the cells there are no pre printed frames that force them to build the comb the way we want it.
How to build a top bar beehive free design plans. The bees build their comb down from these bars naturally without the use of a 4 sided frame or foundation. Most bees will build comb in catenary curves similar to a rope hanging by two ends forming a u and will adjust their cell size based on the needs.