Top Bar Hive Build.....

[FarmerD]

I got 11 more baited up. I believe swarms moving in are imminent on 5, and the others have interest. This may be my best swarm year yet!

 

[Beekissed]

Already!!!!!??????? And look how nice and dark they are! Feral as can BEE. Good job!!! Nice big one too.

 

[FarmerD]

Update:
The comb hangers work great, but are a bear to get out. Still working on a reliable method for getting them out without pulling the comb off the bar. Probably going to investigate using a small battery wired to the hanger to heat it up enough to ease it out. We will see...

So far we've collected 6 swarms in addition to splits we've taken. Our population has ballooned from 8 overwintered hives to 26. We will be getting 13 more from our little barter agreement, and we should be making a second round of splits later in the summer. Looks like I gotta get back to building hives again!

 

[FarmerD]

Well, I ran out of hives, and have 6 more colonies coming and some late summer splits to make. 24 more in the works....

 

[ducks4you]

Congratulations on your swarms!! You are doing us all good, although I keep missing my window to put out my little mason bee house.

 

[FarmerD]

I plan to start pulling in some income from this venture next spring. Should be in the hundreds of colonies by then

 

[Denim Deb]

Quite impressive!

 

[FarmerD]

Thanks!

 

[Beekissed]

I'd sure love an update on this thread....would also love to see those TBHs in action.

 

[NH Homesteader]

I'm glad you revived it! DH wants to build some soon, we miss having bees... Maybe next spring!