can you use CEDAR which is long lasting but usually somewhat aromatic with the bees. This is a 45 degree angle front and box rear for the hive to sit on. Cedar is known to repel moths - but ?? with honey bees.
We make our boxes out of cedar and the bees like them just fine. [ Anything to help repel wax moths...They're nasty.] I paint the outsides but not the insides.
I make bottom boards out of cedar scraps, never had a problem. If it wasn't so expensive I'd try boxes also. After the oils have evaporated off the surface it's just like any other wood.
I made my first three hives from cedar. One of which made 150 pounds of honey that year after a late start. It is not a problem.
Jim
Shouldn't bother them, they build in living cedar trees in the wild. d2
I would think you can make hives out of just about anything except pressure treated lumber. The problem with cedar is the expense. I personally use hemlock because I can get it cheap from the local saw mill.
My landing boards are made of thin air. Literally. There are no landing boards. Anytime I inherit a bottom board that has any landing board on it, I cut it off... I call them mouse ramps...
Michael, about 3 years ago when I first got started I made a landing board every time I made a hive. Very seldom did I see any bees on them. Now I don't make them anymore.
I have no landing boards either. Seemed like unnecessary extra material to me I can't imagine too many hollow trees that have landing boards.