Tbh

[o65]

New beekeeper looking to buy a Top Bar......does anyone have any recommendations, I dont have the time to build one,. Have seen some on the Thornes site , Cornish Honey etc......willing to buy from an independent source if recommended. I already have two nationals with bees..looking to move on with Top bars

Thanks in advance

 

[Fritillary]

Hello o65...
So far to be honest the only purchased cheap top bar hives I've seen I would not have been happy with. To start with, I'd want 1" thick walls, good solid legs, and a roof space large enough to accommodate insulation and feeders as and when needed. Hopefully someone on here has bought a good one.

PS and I'd get one which was 4' long.

 

[o65]

Thanks...Cornish honey tell me there wood is paulownia because it is very light weight (good for beekeepers) and therefore very insulating (good for bees), they find it far superior to cedar or pine - 17"x12"x38"

 

[drex]

I have a home made one made to recognised plans (bio bees- barefoot beekeeper) with a viewing window. Also have a Thornes one, which I am in the process of putting on a new top. The wood is cedar but the top is only ply ( which was a poor original design fault) and has rotted. Will be better than new when repaired, as I will modify it to stop any damp ingress, and making the roof deeper. Both have had bees in, but are currently empty. Fumigated with acetic. Follower boards, feeder for home made, and room in roof for insulation in either. The Thornes colony died recently - went queen less over winter and the other colony died out last winter from isolation starvation and I never got round to restocking.
I want rid of one. Send me a PM If interested. I am not too far from you for collection. Both are heavy with legs but they can easily be unbolted

 

[oxnatbees]

Look for one with:
Cedar so it doesn't rot. Repairing after a few years when full of bees tricky.
End entrances. Trust me on this one. Have seen ones with side entrances, they have comb problems.
Top bars wirh a lower beveled edge to act as a guide.
Steeply sloped roof, giving enough room for some form of top feeder.
PM me for further details.

 

[madasafish]

Having started with TBHs and having had 7 (!), I would not bother. Inspections difficult, honey yield minimal and in a warm summer they will run out of space and swarm - unless 4 feet long .Three feet is too small.
They are difficult to shift and an all round PIA.

I have one left occupied.. and I just inspect briefly for disease and leave...

Agree about end entrances.. side entrances are a faff..

And you need either a VERY light roof or a hinged one - or be a bodybuilder with big arms.

Edit frame feeders are easier .

 

[drex]

I agree they are a bit of a PIA. Thank heavens I learnt the craft on conventional framed hives. My own made one I did out of curiosity and the other is a tribute to my late friend. I do treat them, have the occasional look, but mainly just let them get on with it