Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => TOP BAR HIVES - WARRE HIVES - LONG HIVES => Topic started by: phill on March 27, 2012, 10:40:40 am

Title: using new tbh as swarm trap
Post by: phill on March 27, 2012, 10:40:40 am

Over the winter I built myself a top-bar hive, which is now ready for use. I could populate it with a split from one of my Langstroth hives, but that would be work, and I like to have the bees do the work. So I thought I'd leave the new TBH out as a swarm trap and see what happens.

My question: Should I leave some of the top bars off, to create a bigger opening and make it more attractive to a swarm?

Title: Re: using new tbh as swarm trap
Post by: Robo on March 27, 2012, 11:41:36 am

Quote from: phill on March 27, 2012, 10:40:40 am

My question: Should I leave some of the top bars off, to create a bigger opening and make it more attractive to a swarm?

Why would a bigger opening be more attractive?  Putting drawn comb in it will attract them.

Title: Re: using new tbh as swarm trap
Post by: phill on March 31, 2012, 11:06:59 pm

Thanks; that makes sense.

Why a bigger opening? I guess I'm thinking like a human, not a bee. I'd put up a neon sign if it would work.