The most recent research on bees and hives shows that bees do best in small hives with a volume between 30-40 liters (under ten gallons). They also do best in hives that are heavily insulated, like the inside of a thick tree trunk. And they are healthier when they can build and arrange their comb to their liking. At preservation beekeeping, we are shifting over to keeping smaller colonies and exploring some very “alternative” hive styles including straw hives, logs, and club member Barry has actually designed a small, insulated, inexpensive hive for our club!
We also share how to modify your current hive to make it more bee-friendly.