Build a Top Bar Hive
Tbhs are the ultimate do-it-yourself hive for a non-commercial beekeeper. They:
- can be built from almost any local building material.
- require few construction tools or skills.
- can be designed to fit unique beekeeper needs.
- cost almost nothing to build.
- can be easily modified or scrapped.
Since a tbh’s volume and shape are fixed, it’s important that a tbh is evaluated for suitability before committing to a design.
And it’s important to field test any design for suitability as experience is the best teacher.
It takes much beekeeping experience to design and build a optimal tbh. Fortunately, a fully adequate and functional tbh can be easily build by just about anyone regardless of their experience.
Before building or buying a tbh, a beekeeper must determine it’s suitability. A beekeeper should:
- list the bee’s needs.
- list the beekeeper’s limitations and needs.
Everything is local as different bees, climates, and management practices dictate different needs. And different needs result in different requirements for a tbh.
Tbhs are limited by their shape and volume which is fixed by their design:
- a tbh that’s too small for a beekeeper’s management style will require frequent working.
- a too small tbh might not have enough room for sufficient winter stores.
- follower boards can be used to reduce a large tbhs volume. But a too large tbh wastes material and cost more than they should.
- a tbh that’s too short could overwinter poorly.
- a tbh that’s too tall might not produce harvest-able honey on short, marginal nectar flows.
- a too tall tbh might not handle high summer temperatures without comb failure.
So, keep your lists handy and compare all tbh designs to them. There’s simply no single design that is best for everyone.
Bees are very adaptable and can make just about any sufficiently large cavity work. Not so for the beekeeper. So always field test a tbh design before committing to a single design on a large scale. Sometimes a minor design change can make a lot of difference in how they are managed.
The bees need a cavity that:
- is large enough to accommodate both bees and food resources.
- moderates the broodnest environment from climate and weather.
- and is defensible.
Bees are adaptable creatures with minimal shelter requirements. They need a suitable cavity to over winter in:
- a south facing entrance.
- 3 meters to 5 meters above the ground.
- at least 25 liters volume.
- 40 liters to 60 liters average volume.
- a 20 to 40 square centimeter entrance.
- an entrance at bottom of cavity.
- a 4 centimeter maximum entrance diameter.
- subtropical climate bees prefer smaller cavities of 30 liters.
- German bees prefer 60 liter cavities.
- Africanized honeybees prefer smaller cavities of 22 liters.
- in the hottest areas bees often forsake a cavity for a nest in an open, shady, sheltered place.
Mark Winston’s “The Biology of the Honey Bee” and Tom Seeley’s “The Wisdom of the Hive” are two great books to read about the bee’s needs.
The shape of the cavity is also important. In a temperate climate, with a few very intense nectar flows, taller comb and a shorter hive length works better. The bees can backfill a larger broodnest before storing surplus honey. That insures the best possible conditions for survival during a bad season. And the cluster is in a more compact shape resulting in better over wintering.
In warmer locales, with more frequent but less intense flows, a longer top bar hive with a shorter combs is more functional. The shorter combs allow the beekeeper to harvest surplus honey, which might be inaccessible if stored only in taller broodnest combs. A cluster is a long, shallow box would have more surface area which might be easier to cool during the hottest times of the year.
Beyond what the bees need, a tbh must meet a beekeeper’s needs. After all, it’s the beekeeper who needs the beehive and not the bees. They could easily find a suitable cavity and go to it on their own. But then we would have to climb that tree or cliff to get them. And it’s just much more convenient and safer to bring the bees to the beekeeper, rather than the beekeeper to the bees
Extra hive space allows more flexibility for hive management. It:
- decreases the need for frequent inspections.
- provides a convenient space to feed or split a nucleus.
- makes a hive easier to work.
- and can be reduced using a follower board.
A beekeeper should also consider his:
- beekeeping focus.
- construction skills/tools.
- construction materials.
- migratory requirements.
- management style.
- scale of operation.
- conventional equipment integration.
For example a migratory, extensively managed, large-scale, commercial beekeeper could value:
- stack ability.
- optimum conventional material use.
- enough volume for maximum flexibility.
- minimum hive cost/unit of production.
An organic gardener, needing a few hives for pollination, might value:
Ranging from the rustic to the ornate, tbhs have been constructed out of:
- steel barrels.
- recycled water heaters.
- plastic food grade barrels.
- old refrigerators.
- ammunition cases.
So, what would your tbh look like? I bet it would be a beauty. And I know it would be the best tbh ever built. Because it would give you more satisfaction than any other hive. And it would be made especially for you and your bee’s needs. Here are a few of my thoughts on building the:
- Hive Body – criteria and components.
- Top Bars – criteria and examples.
- Cover – criteria and examples.
- Accessories – some useful additions.
Want to start with a tbh plan? Here are a few tbh plans of my own:
- Tanzanian Tbh – square sided tbh that accommodates frames.
- Kenyan Tbh – a slope sided tbh that accommodates frames.
- Multipurpose Tbh – a bottom support deep frame/topbar hive.
- Construction Techniques – how I build them.
Finally, don’t sweat the small stuff. It takes much experience to design and build an optimal tbh. But the bees really don’t need an optimal hive. Look at what they naturally choose and how easily their needs are met.
Optimizing a tbh really has more to do with the beekeeper’s needs than it does the bees. And I’ve found that a beekeeper’s need are constantly changing.
- decide on a design.
- make sure it’s big enough.
- be safe and have much fun building it.
- then make it work for you and the bees.
- share your joy and fun with others.