On Fri, 8 Nov 1996, Kelley Rosenlund wrote:
 
<earlier, Joel wrote the following paragraph>
> >Our resident Bee-L veteran on these hives is James Satterfield, who has
> >built several and is experiencing much success with them.   He sent me some
> >wonderful photos of his neat, orderly apiaries. I look forward to stocking
> >several new TB hives next spring.
>
<Kelley wrote:>
>         I hope to make two or three hives by spring and stock them by using
> them as catch hives when I move hives from blueberry fields. Possibly may
> use them to put swarms in during the orange flow. They will sure build the
> comb on an orange flow!! My first swarm catching experience was on an orange
> years. We watched a swarm settle on an orange tree. We took two frames of
 
<snip>
 
Kelley, glad that you had the wonderful swarm-catching experience.
 
One word about using tbh's for swarms:  If the tbh's are put out without
any comb, there's little surface area inside for a swarm to cling
to...especially if it is a large swarm.  You might want to put in a few
frames with foundation or drawn comb to increase surface area.  Using
cardboard or duct tape to cover the spaces between the frames seems to
work well.  Of course, combs can be cut out of frames and tied to bars
until the bees quickly attach them.
 
I think that it is important to use a stip of foundation that is no more
than about 1/2 inch wide as the starter strip for the tb.  The bees seem
to build comb starting at the lower end of the foundation, thus a wide
strip may have a heavy comb drawn out before it is attached to the tb.  I
had a comb break loose last year because of this.  I find that a brown
paper bag that has been dipped in melted beeswax, then cut into half inch
strips makes good "foundation".
 
Best wishes in you endeavors.  For new beekeepers in countries where the
economics are such that they can afford "Langstroth" type hives, I think
it's probably good to start with those hives under the watchful eye of an
experienced beekeeper.  Once you get acquainted with bees, give tbh's a
try.  I've sold all of my Langstroth type hive stuff, and I'll never go
back to them.  Neither will Wyatt Mangum.  It's a different type of
beekeeping...
 
Cordially yours,
 
Jim
 
 
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  |  James D. Satterfield        |  E-Mail: [log in to unmask]       |
  |                              --------------------------------
  |  258 Ridge Pine Drive         Canton is about 40 mi/64 km   |
  |  Canton, GA 30114, USA        north of Atlanta, Georgia USA |
  |  Telephone (770) 479-4784                                   |
  ---------------------------------------------------------------