I've heard about TBH's and was trying to find some info on the Warre hives etc, I've read that they are suppose to be a more natural way of keeping bees but after googling it I still don't really understand why. Also can you still harvest honey even though they don't have frames..... or do they have frames. And what are the advantages/disadvantages etc....Sorry I have really managed to confuse myself
I think the confusion originates from confusing the hive types with the approach to beekeeping which is usually (though not always) adopted when using those hive types.
Perhaps the most significant difference between the two styles of beekeeping relates to the use of pressed or moulded foundation. This practice more-or-less dictates to the bees what size cells they must draw - which in turn impacts upon the size of bee which will eventually emerge.
The use of such foundation is most commonly seen in framed hives such as the National (in Britain) and the Langstroth (just about everywhere else).
In contrast, those beeks using Top Bar Hives (including Warre, Dartington etc) may - or may not - use starter strips, with the bees being free to then draw whatever size cells they wish - including 'mixing and matching', with worker, drone and honey cells sometimes all found on the same comb.
Of course it is quite possible to run 'foundationless' frames (within any type of box) to achieve the same end, and it is also possible to run Langstroth and Nationals as pure Top Bar Hives, although they were never designed for this purpose.
When using Supers with reinforced foundation (in frames), the harvesting of honey is done with a spin-dryer type machine which preserves the comb for re-use.
With all other systems, the comb is cut away and crushed - the honey extracted - with the comb then needing to be re-drawn anew. This is actually an unnatural occurrence for the bees, but it can be argued that in these days of trace pollutant build-up, it's actually a more healthy procedure, as left to their own devices, bees would use the same comb over-and over again, until it turned black.
Hope this goes some way to 'un-muddy the waters'.
LJ
