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My hive has crooked combs!
... happens for several reasons: 1. The hive wasn’t leveled and then re-leveled after a few days when the bees were first installed. 2. The spacers weren’t used in the hive correctly. 3. Recently we’ve...The Queenless Hive
...st its queen? Generally you will be able to tell that something is out of balance in the hive if your bees suddenly seem agitated or upset while everything external around them has stayed normal. W...What about Entrance Reducers?
...er sending out entrance reducers because we have decided that they can cause the hive to overheat. The bees are not strong enough to move the entrance reducer out of the way. Due to climate anomalie...Do I need to feed my bees?
It depends... Bees collect nectar and pollen as food, and use their honey stores as a food supply when nectar and pollen are not available. If you obtain your bees after the flowers have begun bVentilation and the top bar hive
...e this issue. In our hives, the window glass actually serves well as a condensation site, allowing the bees access to some water in the winter. The bees themselves have a genetic abi...Why didn't my hive survive?
...sp; A. I think we need to step back and realize that we have been interfering with the genetics of the bees for a long time and that it will take some time and patience before we’re fully on the roa...What kind of considerations should be made in hive placement?
...the hive away from foot traffic. The less foot traffic at the entrance of the hive the better for the bees and you and your friends. You'll need to consider the winter weather in your area and whic...How do I install bees into the Top Bar Hive?
The first step is to prepare your hive. Before you install your bees, place the false back near the middle of the hive. This will encourage the bees to establish their brood nest in the front ofCan I harvest honey from a birdhouse that bees have made into a beehive?
Q. Help, I have a big, about 12 by 12 bird house, that bees have made their hive in. It's full, how do I get the honey? and save the bees and me? A. Harvesting from the birdhouse would be veryWhy are my bees gone?
...dard hive, no Top bar. I live in Denver in the vicinity of Hampden and Kipling. There were a few dead bees not a lot. I did see some bees lodged in the comb they were quite a distance from the hone...What are the effects of a Backyard Hive in an urban or suburban environment (on the neighbors, the dogs, the kids)?
...x area and would be keeping a hive in my backyard. Apart from swarming, I am curious about how much the bees would "travel." I notice that in the summer when swimming in the backyard we have the occas...What tools and equipment do I need for a Backyard Hive?
... flower blooms. I cover this approach in an article "A Simple Harvest" on our Website. Beeswax You do need to get bee's wax to coat the triangular edge of the top bars. You can m...Is the hive safe near the garden?
... of the hive is not pointed directly at the garden. Consider that you will get a 10 foot long stream of bees coming and going from the entrance. You just don't want a person to get a bee caught in...Can I start two hives at once?
...e, although thirty feet is really an arbitrary number - the main thing to consider is the time when the bees formed their colony and regrouped. When the first bees installed have stopped "fanning", th...Is the 3/4 inch gap in the top bars normal?
...ending upon how you configure your top bars and spacers. If the beekeeper is not paying attention, the bees can fill up the entire hive with comb. In this case the beekeeper would still be able to a...How far apart should the hives be?
...ive. The biggest problem for me has been when I am harvesting honey in one hive and the adjacent hives’ bees catch wind of the honey smell. I now have increased the number of bees landing on the combs...Are there any Bee Organizations you would recommend joining?
... top bar method. I am not sure why, but I know there is a lot of fear concerning the current state of bees, and sometimes people can be uneducated about how effective this chemical-free, organic, s...Should we get and use protective clothing?
... move gently and smoothly without jarring the hive. Pay attention to the reaction you receive from the bees and be prepared to close the hive if the situation becomes too stressful. As you become mo...Is propolis a problem in the BackYard hive?
...ngstroth hive. Propolis is not really problematic in the top bar hive because of the nature of how the bees suspend the combs from the top bars. With the Langstroth hive "frames" are provided for...Should I weatherize my new top bar hive?
...e hive is based on the holistic approach to bee keeping. We believe paint fumes can interfere with the bees’ pheromone-based communication. There are, however, several natural alternative paints. (S...How do I remove a bee hive from my wall?
...teer" hive in a wall of our house, just above the water heater - a nice warm spot! I want to move these bees to a hive where they will be safe. I do not want to call in a company who will simply remov...Can children work with the hive?
...ce with their children. The children are 8-10 years old and are working with their parents, tending the bees. Tending to the beehive covers many learning opportunities, including ecology, nature, math...Honey production and the BackYard hives.
...mind our hives cannot compete on a hive per hive basis with commercial hives. In our top bar hives the bees have to draw out virgin comb each time one is removed, which slows down the production, bu...When can I harvest honey and how much should I expect?
...a new hive, you will be able to harvest 1-3 combs before fall. You can harvest these combs to give the bees more space, and to prevent them from attaching a comb to the back of the hive. In you...How much setup is required?
...eper. There are just a few steps that you will need to take to set up your hive before you install the bees. 1. Find the best location for your hive. 2. Place your hive on a platform so it is ...What are the benefits to my garden?
...ng your own beehive will give you your very own work force of pollinators. Imagine having 20,000 plus bees working hard in your garden. The honeybee accounts for 80% of pollination done by insects ...How do you deal with varroa mites?
...turally and because we supply most of our hives with captured swarms, we feel that the genetics of our bees are stronger and ever-adapting. Some of the hives in our apiary do have mites, and most h...How do bees attach comb to topbars?
A. The top bar hive does not use wax foundation as used in Langstroth hives. The bees draw out their own comb using the top bar as a guide. To encourage the bees to build straight combs in a toDo you have provisions for a queen excluder?
...honey stores. We typically avoid queen excluders because they are usually metal, which may disturb the bees’ natural rhythms. Plus, the bees will have to squeeze through the little holes, which may ...Any thoughts on protecting the bees and hives from hungry bears?
...r landing board, needs to be flush with the fence or wall with a hole to the outside -- otherwise, the bees may get stuck inside. Placing a hive in a structure can also help with insulating the hiv...How do I obtain bees to put into my Backyard Hive?
Bees are not included with your purchase of a BackYard hive. There are four ways to get bees: you can buy a nucleus (a “nuc”), you can buy a package of bees, or you can get on a swarm list aAbout our top bar hives
...t is to make it manageable for the beginning bee guardian. A Langstroth hive will contain up to 80,000 bees. A High Volume top bar hive will contain about 50-60K bees. Working with a large number of...All about swarming
...a Swarm. For information about luring a swarm into a hive, click here . You will know when your bees are preparing to swarm when you see queen cells (large cells that look like peanuts) on th...What about wintering in these hives?
...at you may need to adjust this information for your specific climate and area. Because of how the bees use honey over the winter, we have changed our thoughts on when the best time to harvest h...How can I remove bees from old tires?
Q. A colony of bees have formed a hive in a stack of old tires on my property. How can I move them to a more appropriate place, and when is the best time to do this? A. Overall it is REAL
