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Author Topic: Top Bar Hives Downunder?  (Read 6595 times)

Offline squidink

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Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« on: August 01, 2012, 08:26:00 am »
Out of interest does anyone down under have a top bar hive?

I'm in the process of making one all ready for spring time. The small gap in the bottom middle
I shall cover with mesh to allow for a bit of ventilation. More updated photo's as it progresses..


Ben




Offline bernsad

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2012, 10:15:51 pm »
I don't have one but I'm interested in your progress. If you have time the odd photo update would be appreciated.

Offline squidink

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2012, 08:10:53 pm »
all painted!

Due to the size i am going to make it a 2 hive top bar hive.
I shall divide it in the middle.



Offline bernsad

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2012, 07:11:38 pm »
Looks very nice, I can't wait to see it in action now. How are you going to introduce bees into it?

Offline squidink

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2012, 06:19:13 pm »
Good question! I'm thinking 2 swarms will be the way to go!!
Short of that I will add a few pounds of bees from a strong hive
and a new queen.

Offline bernsad

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2012, 06:31:00 pm »
Two swarms and let the queens duke it out, or seperate them one at each end?

Offline squidink

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2012, 07:29:49 pm »
I will separate them to each end. Its hard to see in the photo but this hive is massive! I should have made it smaller.

Offline Wonga

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2012, 01:41:12 am »
I'm interested in top bar hives, although my two hives are langstroth style. Good looking kenyan style top bar hive there - did you consider a warre hive at all?

Offline Lone

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2012, 02:15:15 am »
It looks good.  If it doesn't work out it will make a good cattle feed trough.

Lone

Offline squidink

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2012, 05:29:47 am »
I'm interested in top bar hives, although my two hives are langstroth style. Good looking kenyan style top bar hive there - did you consider a warre hive at all?

I did think about a warre but this I can leave and not have to check as regularly.

Each side will have 28 top bars. I should have made it smaller.

Lone I was thinking a pig feed trough! ;-)

Offline Gary and Margaret - kiwimana

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2012, 06:33:18 pm »
Hi,

We have them at the bee clubs I attend.

I am keen to get one going this season, if I can get the time to build one that is.

We will be blogging about on our blog, once we have it up and running.

We will have to use a swarm to populate it.
Thanks

Gary and Margaret
We blog and Podcast at http://kiwimana.co.nz

Offline Pete

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2012, 08:49:12 am »
Really awesome. did you design yourself or follow plans? If designed yourself did you take into account Phi (golden ratio?)

Offline squidink

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2012, 06:05:37 pm »
Hi Pete, I designed it my self. I did not know what was golden ratio was until you mentioned and I looked it up on Wikipedia! It's still a bit cool so I will wait another month before putting bees into this hive. Ben

Offline squidink

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Re: Top Bar Hives Downunder?
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2012, 05:03:14 am »
...a little bit closer today. I started the top bar's. I used some hot glue to attach some foundation to get the bees started when they go in.

 

anything