Top Bar Beehive Design

The plywood swarm box.

Top bar beehive design. The plans break down each section so even those that are newest to beekeeping and carpentry work could probably figure out how to build these hives without much fuss. The top bar hive is the oldest and most commonly used hive style in the world. Top bar beehives may be one of the oldest forms of domestic beekeeping. It features individual bars laid across the top of the hive cavity.

Made from different materials that are often repurposed or recycled top bar hives can be observed around the world. The first written report observing these hives comes from the 1600s. These are more plans for a top bar beehive. As mentioned before top bars were created to disturb less of the hive all at once.

Mar 22 2015 beehive design plans special projects uncategorized woodworking here s a how to video on building a new top bar beehive using thermally treated poplar. The top bar hive is designed with the beekeeper in mind both in terms of the construction effort and the management of the hive once installed. The style most people use today and that i will be discussing is the kenyan top bar hive which has roots that go back to ancient greece. Bfd93 top bar hive hj 301109 1412 words 1 practical beekeeping making a top bar hive janet lowore monica barlow and mark loveday bees for development keywords.

Distinct in shape and size the top bar beehive commonly features a single rectangular or tub shaped hive body with parallel bars. Measurements and sizing will vary depending on the size of beehive you choose to build. You can also print the complete design plans and parts list which is posted below to build your own hive. The actual finished.

My design is taken with permission from my friend matt wilson a master beekeeper and former organic farming coordinator at berea college in berea kentucky. Although the two most well known styles of long top bar hives are named kenyan and tanzanian the kenyan hive was actually developed in canada and the so called tanzanian hive is not the same as the top bar hive that was developed in tanzania the design of top bar hives has its origins in the work done in 1965 by tredwell and paterson. At a high level it is effectively a box on legs with a cover. Lumber in a store is identified by its nominal size which is its rough dimension before it s trimmed and sanded to its finished size at the lumber mill.

Hive design movable comb top bar top bar hives are easier and cheaper to make than frame hives yet have some advantages of movable comb technology. Build this hive 14. The following tables break down the kenya top bar hive into its individual components and provide instructions on how to cut and build those components.