Do I have to paint the hive white or could I just seal it?

[firetool]

HI,
It getts pretty warm down here in the summer. Can I leave the hive the natural colar and just seal it with a varnis? I would prefure this but will paint it, if its better for the bees!

Thanks,

Brian

[Anonymous]

You can just varnish the wood. But since you said it gets hot down there You might want to stain or paint it a light reflecting color. Although if youhave afternoon shade I see no reason to not just keep the natural wood color.
:D Al

[Beth Kirkley]

Hey-

I don't prefer doing this, but I remembered seeing some great posts about painting hives and thought this information might help you more than just giving you simple answers. Read these posts to help you decide, and if afterwards you still have questions then ask away. :)

http://www.beemaster.com/beebbs/viewtopic.php?t=1937&highlight=paint

http://www.beemaster.com/beebbs/viewtopic.php?t=1712&highlight=paint

http://www.beemaster.com/beebbs/viewtopic.php?t=1638&highlight=paint

http://www.beemaster.com/beebbs/viewtopic.php?t=883&highlight=paint

Hope this helps,
Beth

[Jay]

If you read the posts that Beth so nicely collected and posted, you will see a discussion at great length in one thread on to paint or not to paint the inside of the boxes. Some were concerned about the difference in moisture content if you paint the outside and not the inside of the wood. Keep in mind, one of the first things the girls do when setting up house is to propolise the entire inside of the wooden box to clean and sterilize it. Propolis is the gummy, sticky resin of trees and makes a very good sealer (it seems to work well for the trees). So don't paint the inside of the boxes. :D

[firetool]

Thanks Beth the treads where very helpful.

Brian