Category Archives: Top Bar Hives

Why top bar beehives?

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Nathan

Here is my post about why I’ve decided to use foundationless and top bar hives for my treatment-free style of beehive management. http://www.pleasedbees.com/wp/2011/02/04/why-top-bar-hives/

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Shifting my Beehive from Langstroth Frames to Top Bar Hive

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Nathan

I moved a 5 frame conventional (Langstroth) nucleus hive into a top bar hive so they would have space to grow. The bottom corners of each frame are cut off to make the rectangular frame fit into the trapezoid shape of the top bar hive. Since I’m running only top bar hives now, it makes sense for me to have a consistent setup.
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Feeding bees honey, not sugar syrup

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Nathan

I have a strong opinion the best food for bees is honey or pollen they have collected themselves, and so I am reluctant to feed my bees cane sugar. Continue reading →

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Trouble in the Top Bar

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Nathan

The last 2 weeks have been cold & rainy, and I’ve been worried about the new package I installed in the top bar hive on April 10th. Continue reading →

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Honeybee journal entry

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Nathan

Here is what I found in today’s inspection: Tango hive: (new top bar hive) Humid inside! I need to drill some ventilation holes in the bottom, and maybe another entrance hole. There is comb drawn on 7 bars, 5 of … Continue reading →

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Installing Packaged Bees into a Top Bar Hive

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Nathan

The queens came in individual cages, and ran $20 each if you just wanted to re-queen your hive. The whole family was along with me when we got them, and we all got to see how they were delivered. The … Continue reading →