Is propolis a problem in the backyard hive?

Q. "I would like to know if propolis is a problem with the BYH"

A. Managing the combs in a Topbar hive is quite a bit different then the Langstroth hive. Propolis is not really problematic in the Topbar hive because of the nature of how the bees suspend the combs from the top bars.

With the Langstroth hive "frames" are provided for the bees to draw out the comb.

These frames slide into slots in the Langstroth hive box. Because there is a tight fit and the edges of the frame contact the box, propolis can be a problem.

The bees will propolis any crack or surface of wood and will "glue" the frames into place, requiring a hive tool to free them.

In the Topbar hive there are two things that the bees do to keep the combs steady and to seal the hive. The first is that the bees propolis the ends of the top bars to the top edge of the hive.

The top bar is removed by gently prying or loosening the edges of the bar with something like a hive tool. We have created a hive tool for the top bar hive. It works great for prying bars that have been "glued" with propolis and scrapig comd from the sides of the hive. You can order it in our online Shop .

I first pry vertically about 1/2 inch and then slide the tool in between the next bar and pry about a 1/4 inch horizontally. This is usually all that is needed to loosen the grip of the propolis on the topbar.

The second stage of removing a comb is to detach the wax comb from the sides of the hive and sometimes the bottom. Since the wax is warm and pliable I slowly move the hive tool along the side of the hive using the flattened (knife edge) side of the hive tool along the comb to detach the few places that the bees have secured the comb.