tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post8684805956146617696..comments2024-02-23T05:26:35.037-05:00Comments on Linda's Bees: Les Crowder on Using Top Bar HivesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-26569404545394285722018-08-06T14:44:44.392-04:002018-08-06T14:44:44.392-04:00If i remove followers will i have honey combs with...If i remove followers will i have honey combs with brood in same bar ??Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11450271272444840145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-24661111838290379982017-10-07T21:53:15.767-04:002017-10-07T21:53:15.767-04:00I have been keeping my bees in top bar hives for t...I have been keeping my bees in top bar hives for the last 5 years. I have 11 hives built to Les Crowder’s and I have found this is the best way for me to keep bees. I don’t use chemicals in any form, I allow the bees built what they need when they need it. I inspect my hives every 2 week and make adjustments to the combs when nesessary. My bees are healthier than they have ever been. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-20990908024886988072012-08-12T03:15:17.150-04:002012-08-12T03:15:17.150-04:00TBH are one of those ideas which look wonderfully ...TBH are one of those ideas which look wonderfully yet when tried become a complete disaster, at least it was so for me. Perhaps I missed something. Beekeeping is difficult nowadays and TBH make it even more so. Use frames, its much easier.Sashahttp://www.sashamrkailo.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-45191839616066149082012-08-04T09:48:54.092-04:002012-08-04T09:48:54.092-04:00I think a TBH is a waste of material, money, time,...I think a TBH is a waste of material, money, time, and energy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-56045395738025754412012-08-02T02:07:18.170-04:002012-08-02T02:07:18.170-04:00I'm in total agreement that they don't ext...I'm in total agreement that they don't extend the brood comb. I will take some pictures soon and describe them in a future blog. However the honey arch above the brood is typically uncapped and that is the comb that they extend... You get a bulge above the brood comb that then gets connected to the new comb on the other bar. With natural comb Langstroth frames you have a wood frame around the comb so attachments are easier to break or cut because you have the added strength of the frame.Jeff Steenbergenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01511063123637255176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-13793786746582731622012-08-01T21:08:43.029-04:002012-08-01T21:08:43.029-04:00Since brood comb is a fixed depth, they wouldn'...Since brood comb is a fixed depth, they wouldn't do that with brood comb. In foundationless beekeeping in Langstroth's, if you put an empty frame between two UNCAPPED honey combs, the bees will extend the comb to encompass the space often rather than build a new comb on the new frame. It's the same in the top bar. If you put an empty top bar between two drawn brood combs, the bees will build new comb, but if you put an empty bar between two drawn but uncapped honey combs, they will simply extend the comb.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-5801351467582035682012-08-01T16:49:33.698-04:002012-08-01T16:49:33.698-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.HBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00457255992295971802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-29942891943063868772012-08-01T16:40:52.959-04:002012-08-01T16:40:52.959-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.HBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00457255992295971802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-19371022361802743202012-08-01T14:40:02.807-04:002012-08-01T14:40:02.807-04:00I find it interesting he adds bars between existin...I find it interesting he adds bars between existing combs. I did that for awhile and am not as sure that it is all that great of an idea because I find that they extend the two existing combs on the edges to "bridge" the gap as they start making new comb in the middle. Then when the middle gets to the edges this then gets wrapped around and you can get a bit of cross comb on the edges that needs to get cut away.<br /><br />My bars are shorter at 17" and I still have them trying to curve the comb so the edges attach to the next bars but the middles are on center. I wonder how he prevents this with even longer bars.Jeff Steenbergenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01511063123637255176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-73036046313476640842012-08-01T14:34:19.873-04:002012-08-01T14:34:19.873-04:00They are easy to build, just keep in mind that wha...They are easy to build, just keep in mind that whatever you build isn't going to have standard equipment out there and if you ever want a second that you can swap equipment with you'll have to make an exact copy which isn't as easy. :)Jeff Steenbergenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01511063123637255176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-22283591616167186492012-08-01T14:31:23.547-04:002012-08-01T14:31:23.547-04:00I exclusively use top bar hives and you do have to...I exclusively use top bar hives and you do have to get in there often to watch the new comb they are building and nude it in the right direction at times. The sooner you catch it the easier to fix. Sometimes they build out 15 combs perfectly then the flow comes on and then 5 new crazy combs that are a mess... I mark those for harvest and move back out of the way so they can go back to making sane comb again.Jeff Steenbergenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01511063123637255176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-15976242723287606302012-08-01T13:48:17.698-04:002012-08-01T13:48:17.698-04:00Top bars are not easy. I've tried and failed ...Top bars are not easy. I've tried and failed three years in a row (see earlier blog posts on top bars). Les says that it's really hard for a beginner because of all the comb maintenance, but I am trying again next year.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-55151877148055494882012-08-01T13:45:57.764-04:002012-08-01T13:45:57.764-04:00I've just encountered top bar hives in the las...I've just encountered top bar hives in the last couple of weeks - initially through an Introduction to Permaculture course. What I like about them is that they seem really easy to build at home...and inexpensive. Do you plan on trying one out yourself?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03861108457109878599noreply@blogger.com