The Top-Bar-Log-Hive

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. A hollow log; the traditional one you are keeping

2. A plank of wood, about 20 mm thick.

3. A piece of fine wire mesh or an old tea strainer. a

4. A measuring tape or ruler, a few nails and a saw.

What you have to do:

1. 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.

2. Cut bars out of the plank. These 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.

3. 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.

4. 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-Log- Hives. In modern beekeeping exchange of combs is a necessity (making artificial swarms, uniting colonies, etc.)

5. Make an entrance about half way along the hive. The entrance should be about 10mm wide. When the bee colony is small the entrance can be made smaller by closing it with mud and/or cow dung.

6. Start your modern beekeeping enterprise—preferably with a swarm. Hive the swarm and wait for about 2 weeks! Then check that the combs are built parallel and exactly under the bars. If not, then cut the combs carefully and attach them again to separate bars as shown in the drawing above. Once the combs are set in an orderly way, the bees continue in that pattern and new combs are built with each one attached to one to-bar.

7. The upper one third of the log is used as a lid or roof. However the hive is not waterproof and bees dislike rain, so if it rains in your area, place the hive somewhere sheltered or construct a waterproof roof.

Some Tips

• Place your Top-Bar-Log-Hive at a well sheltered, easily accessible site and inspect the colony every week (especially important for beginner beekeepers).

• Do not over-exploit the bees— you will frustrate the bees and yourself. Try to become acquainted with the bees’ behaviour and life cycle.

• Start with two hives if possible. This is for practical bee management reasons and also because it lets you observe the progress between the two colonies.

• While checking each hive, remove 2 or 3 bars first and keep these this provides a space to work in inside the hive. After finishing the work, place all the combs in their original position.

• When harvesting honey, only take out combs that do not contain open or closed brood. In this way brood will not be harmed. Any honey stored above the brood is needed by the bees for feeding.

ALWAYS REMEMBER TODAY’S BROOD IS TOMORROW’S BEES IS THE DAY AFTER TOMMORROW’S HONEY

• When cutting the honey comb during harvesting, leave about lcm attached to the bar. This will create a good foundation from which bees can build new comb.

A Last Tip—A Carpentry Tip

It might be advisable to adjust the cross section of the bars as shown. This will reduce the chance of bees getting squashed between the bars.

Although this hive certainly has some disadvantages (the comb construction is fragile), it definitely has several advantages over other types of hives e.g.

• low cost

• easy to make yourself

• less critical carpentry dimensions

• no need for special equipment like queen excluders, wax foundation, honey extractors...