Is it worth painting hives different colours?

[REDWOOD]

Cedar does have a nice weathered look with age but try telling my mate who's hot tub has a cedar surround and hates the look and is constantly coating it with teak oil

 

[MuswellMetro]

The only ones that get painted here are plywood hives, with acrylic shed and fence paint, the cedar hives get no paint or preservative treatment at all.

We only paint the Association Hives, and we use Bright yellow Primrose Cuprinol fence paint that is only made to special order

We can spot what equipment is "borrowed" very easily!!!

 

[richardbees]

I painted a hive in camo once.

Trouble is, I can't find it now.

best post of the year !

 

[REDWOOD]

best post of the year !

Give him a cup then

 

[VEG]

We only paint the Association Hives, and we use Bright yellow Primrose Cuprinol fence paint that is only made to special order

We can spot what equipment is "borrowed" very easily!!!

Unless overpainted

 

[MuswellMetro]

Unless overpainted

They are not that deceitfully, well most most of them aren't

 

[richardbees]

Give him a cup then

alright then

 

[Dishmop]

A problem arises when you change boxes around, say when doing a split etc.

You change a dark box which they are used to entering, with a light coloured one, it confuses them.
If you had a dark brood box and a light box on top of that and changed them over, the bees would still head for the bottom of the dark box, which is now on the top, and spend ages walking about looking for the entrance.

 

[Swarm]

Can't say I've had any problem switching boxes, no matter what colour they are.

 

[drstitson]

"Unless overpainted"

sure but if you suspect hives are yours you can score through top layer of paint to reveal YOUR signature colour bright.

like using non standard colours to mark queens - explain away fluorescent pink HM mr tea leaf.

 

[Finman]

Goran from Croatia has posted
On a rather different painting topic, I rather like the southern european practice of pictorial hive fronts. I bought a couple in Bavaria many years ago.

I visited in all states of Yogoslavia 1983 and I bought those Hive paintings then. They are in front of me on the wall. They are from Slovenia Ljubiana.

"Another special feature of Slovenian beekeeping that has gained international recognition is in the area of folk art – this being the art of painting beehive panels, something not known anywhere else in the world. The beginnings of this folk art can be traced back to the middle of the 18th century. "

 

[user 6228]

"Unless overpainted"

sure but if you suspect hives are yours you can score through top layer of paint to reveal YOUR signature colour bright.

like using non standard colours to mark queens - explain away fluorescent pink HM mr tea leaf.

Our hives our distinctive in their "natural colour "

 

[Norfolk]

How about these from Slovenia

View attachment 9321

 

[REDWOOD]

Branding your hive parts is a much safer way of identifying them

 

[BeeJayBee]

I also paint a symbol (circle or square) on the front of mine in a different colour.
In fact the symbol is painted on the circle or square in a contrasting colour.

My boxes are all the same colour, but they each have a different pattern on the landing board.

I know some people don't like landing boards, but I do. They'd walk up a tree trunk the entrance, so why not offer the same sort of thing with a hive.

 

[Norfolk]

My boxes are all the same colour, but they each have a different pattern on the landing board.

I know some people don't like landing boards, but I do. They'd walk up a tree trunk the entrance, so why not offer the same sort of thing with a hive.

I agree, if they have a board they can use it or not, their choice.

 

[user 6228]

My boxes are all the same colour, but they each have a different pattern on the landing board.

I know some people don't like landing boards, but I do. They'd walk up a tree trunk the entrance, so why not offer the same sort of thing with a hive.

most of our landing boards are vertical pieces of plastic mesh underneath the entrance.

 

[BILL.HEARD]

I find old roof slates useful as landing boards and to keep entrances weed free.

 

[Amari]

My boxes are all the same colour, but they each have a different pattern on the landing board.

I know some people don't like landing boards, but I do. They'd walk up a tree trunk the entrance, so why not offer the same sort of thing with a hive.

A landing board enables you to see the colour of the pollen in the pollen baskets - not possible in my one hive with no landing board.

 

[user 6228]

Paint your wooden hives to stop them absorbing water... increased wood water content increases heat loss both to increased conduction of the wood and evaporation.