What is a Kenyan top bar hive?
Kenyan top bar hives are a “natural” style of beekeeping, allowing bees to build their own comb. During harvest the comb is cut off, honey is extracted then the comb is used to make such items as candles – it is not reinserted into the hive.
Can I have the measurements of the top bar beehive?
We propose a standard top bar with a main body that is 19-1/2 inches long by 1-1/2 inches wide by 3/4 inches thick. This bar can be temporarily used in a Langstroth hive, and its size falls within the range of bar sizes currently used by most American top bar beekeepers.
Why do top bars have hives?
With a horizontal top bar hive, beekeepers don’t have to lift heavy boxes, purchase an expensive honey extractor, use foundation full of chemicals, or agitate the bees as much as box-style hives when managing the colony.
Where do you put the top bar hive?
When you get your bees you should install them at one end of the hive with the follower boards spaced in such a way that 8-12 bars are accessible to the colony. Open only 1 entrance (the one the colony has access to), leaving the rest closed.
How much is a top bar hive?
Top Bar Hives
- Top Bar Hive Plans And Hardware Kits. Sale.
- Golden Mean Top Bar Hive. Golden Mean Top Bar Hive from $452.00.
- Top Bar Hive. Top Bar Hive 12 reviews from $500.00.
- Standard Top Bar Hive. Standard Top Bar Hive $412.00.
- Top Bars.
- Top-Bar Hive Nucleus Box.
- Side Comb Stand.
- Cozy Cover Hive Insulation Wrap.
How do top bar hives work?
The top bar hive is the oldest and most commonly used hive style in the world. It features individual bars laid across the top of the hive cavity. The bees build their comb down from these bars naturally, without the use of a 4 sided frame or foundation.
What do you call a Kenyan top bar hive?
Otherwise known as a KTBH or hTBH (horizontal). Top bar hives are low tech, old style configurations of hives. As well as hTBH (such as the Kenyan and Tanzanian) there are also vTBH (vertical) such as the Warre. The Kenyan was designed to be low tech, low cost and simple to build using available materials.
What kind of hives are used in Kenya?
There are different types of hives used in beekeeping in Kenya but the most important for commercial purposes are two, the Kenya Top Bar Hive (KTBH) and the Langstroth hives.
Which is the best beehive to buy in Kenya?
Those experienced in beekeeping can purchase a Langstroth hive. This article is intended for those wanting to construct a modern beehive like KTBH. KTBH was developed in Kenya and is a good option for many Kenyan beekeepers. The main advantage is the simplicity of the hive and its low cost.
What to use to build a top bar beehive?
Using either top bar wood or small strips of left-over plywood, fashion the remaining structure of the queen excluder to fit the inside of the tapered beehive. The coffee wire should be tightly nailed between the wooden strips and should fit snugly inside the beehive.