im getting ready to build a top bar hive so i can have bees for my garden. im a newbie to bees and had a couple of questions about building a hive.
ive seen the videos here on building a top bar hive. the guy drilled 1 inch holes for vent and the entrance. is that okay? i read some where you want a centimeter or less for an entrance. which one should i have?
2nd question is paint. can i paint everything inside and out including the top bars with latex paint?
No paint on inside AT ALL! As to entrance, everyone has a different opinion, me I like the top end entrance which is setting the 1st bar back app 1/2" and raising the roof about the same. Of course that is if you are using a flat roof. Otherwise a couple 3/4" holes will do fine. As for ventilation, depends a lot on your location.
Other TBH beeks will soon chime in.
Bees will polish everything inside the hive. Your paint would be wasted as the bees would coat it with wax and propolis.
thank you for your input.
I don't paint the inside. I never drill holes in equipment, including top bar hives. My entrance is the gap between the first bar and the front of the hive...
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopbarhives.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopbarhives.htm)
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/TBHEntrance1.JPG (http://www.bushfarms.com/images/TBHEntrance1.JPG)