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The Top-Bar-Log-Hive
RACTICAL BEEKEEPING
The following article is adapted from instructions prepared by Karel Speth (of SNV-Nepal) who until recently has been working with the Industrial Entomology Project in Nepal.
How to make your own beehive—easy and cheap! Beekeeping will be really profitable only when the combs of the bee colony are movable in such a way that regular inspection and manipulation of the colony is possible. This is not possible in traditional, fixed-comb hives like log-hives, however with a few modifications it is possible to make a modern hive out of a log. Let’s call it the
Top-Bar-Log-Hive. First of all: These instructions will give you some ideas on how to make your own beehive—a beehive that can be made by yourself with hardly any tools during one morning. But perhaps more important... it will cost hardly any money. The beehive described here has been used and tested for two years with very good results—but improvements are always possible.
Build one yourself—use it—help with further development
What you need: 1.
2
3 A
piece of fine wire mesh or an old tea strainer.
A hollow log; the traditional one you are keeping bees in will do.
2A
a
plank of wood, about 20 mm thick.
4 A
measuring tape or ruler, a few nails and a saw.
7 What you have to do: Split the upper one third of the log (longitudinally). The lower two thirds will make the hive body and the top one third will make the lid.
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bars should have an equal width of 30mm. This is the most important, difficult and precise part of the Top-Bar-Log-Hive. Because of the 30mm width of the bars, the bees are able to construct only one single comb from each single bar.
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Cut bars out of the plank. These
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1
ee Ss
Use a piece of wooden plank to close each end of the hive. These planks will also form the stand for the hive. Make ventilation holes at each end, towards the top. Cover the holes with a piece of wire mesh. Put the bars in position along the top of the hive. The bars must be broader than the hive, overlapping the hive wall at each side by about 10cm. This is to ensure that the bars and combs the bees build on them will fit other Top-Bar-LogHives. In modern beekeeping
