I am building my first top bar hive (or 3) and am also considering building a few bait hives. I was wondering, since this is my first project, can the new top bar hives act as the bait hives also, or should I build separate bait hives and transfer them once I have a swarm.
Thanks!
I recommend you also build bait hives. I have empty hives in my apiaries all the time hoping to catch swarms. Tried setting them up with different sizes and heights above the ground. Only ever had a swarm move in once in 6 years and it was in one that I had tossed in a garden half sideways. It had one frame in the bottom super and they built the rest of the combs from the Top screen cover above the super.
Jim