Joe Hemmens wrote:
 
> 'They have the same fault (as top bar hives) in that bees do not care
> to expand their brood nests sideways;  it is natural for the pollen
> and honey to be above the brood and for the nest to move in an upward
> direction.'
>
> And -
>
> '...but in practice colonies in such hives never build large populations
> or store too much honey'.
>
 
Joe,
 
There is at least some truth to these comments.  I have only one 'Top Bar' hive, and I do not use it
regularly.  Sometimes it has been slower to build up than normal vertical hives, but not always.  I
made it just to give it a try.
 
One thing I did do a bit differently than standard was to make a few top bars with one-half a bee
space openning on each side.  Then in the fall I was able to add standard supers and move the bees
up for a wintering attempt.  (The top width of my TBH was made the same as the length of a standard
super.)
 
Crops do not in my experience are not only less than with standard equipment, but extracting is
comparatively easy.  But, I would still encourage you to try one or two just for fun.  You will
learn some new things.
 
Tom
 
--
"Test everything.  Hold on to the good."  (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
 
Tom Elliott
Eagle River, Alaska
U.S.A.
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