Moving Top Bar Hives and other Minor Disasters

So Terry was kind and gave me a hive, but I had to move it. With his help we moved the hive but it broke some comb, which we were forced to fix. The fix wasn't clean or easy, it was messy yet tasty. Don't try this at home. We're trained professionals.

[terrymelle]

This was a fun day and a first for me. Thanks for posting. Josh is here and we watched the video together. He appreciates your teaching and all the help with his top bar.

[OutOfaBlueSky]

I should clarify that the successful commercial beekeepers that use TBH keep them on stands at truck-bed level to keep them easy to slide in and out.   In contrast, the TBH in the video was on legs and couldn't do that.

[apismellifera]

Hey McCartney your videos are very entertaining and educating to watch. Your are a big reason why I love the Kenya Top Bar hive system you are an inspiration to me

[UNDERSTRY]

A useful demonstration.  Thank you!  I was just wondering--the screen you use at the bottom of your hives--what size is it?

[mordechaimordechai]

Hi there! Wouldn't be ok to build top bars with a trapezoid frame on them to support the weight? Beekeeping fascinates me a lot.

[NikolaouNikolaos]

Secure the queen,  remove the honey and you transfer your beehive without a problem in…Greece:))

[karensalmonsen]

Would the solution to this be to build a top bar that is square like a Langstroth and use frames? This way you could just take out individual frames from the top bar and place them in square boxes for transport. But I don't know if that would work.

[ziegenvinehomestead]

I sure hope you check messages on this video frequently. We are in the process of preparing to move a top bar hive from a friends house to our 103 acre farm. Fortunately - it is still winter in New York and we are looking to move the hive on a 35 degree day. The hive is not on legs - but on blocks . We are new to bee keeping and really am glad we are able to watch this video prior to moving the hive. Any recommendations?
Besides don't move it?

[followme]

There must be more to this story...a free hive, full of bees and honey, but the feeder jars have been left empty and encased in comb. This free hive must have been untended to or abandoned for some reason. Anyway, there are lessons to be learned here - especially the value of having a helper when things go wrong!

[BlaineNay]

The more I learn about top-bar hives, the more I appreciate Lorenzo Langstroth's design. There is nothing that can be done with a top-bar hive that can't be done more easily and better with a Langstroth. My top-bar hives are for sale. Never again.

[aapalalawy]

Hi there. Could you please tell how long must you wait before you can move a swarm of bees that has just moved into a small top bar hive to a kenyan top bar hive. I live in morogoro Tanzania

[bat]

hi, McCartney great videos learning a lot. could you do a video on what you do for Varroa Treatment and pests in a top bar hive

[DixieGirl]

We built ours with removable legs, for just such problems, after the first one (with non removable legs)that we had to carry across a creek, at night, to a new location. It was four foot long, and nearly completely full, not fun, not fun at all. Looks like the best outcome of a not so perfect situation. I had a mess of one last summer that a bear busted apart, ate 12 bars of honey and some brood. Had to move what was left (6 bars of brood)into another box, at dust, in the rain, and looking over my shoulder the whole time wondering if the bear would come back.lol

[paulanelson]

top bar or lang, bees are bees! I have a top bar hive that the bees fly out butt first at me. I have a lang that does the same thing. Other 4 hives consist of 1 more top bar, and 3 more langs, they are all sweet as can be. I don't really think it is the hive type that matters.

[goldstarhoneybees]

Best if the legs of a top bar hive are removable - for just this reason!  Plus they store easily with the legs removed.

[UnbeltedSundew]

Shame about the wind problems, love your vids.

[brads]

Is the species of the bees the reason for their docility?

[lirg]

my thoughts on this, i think that the bees will be very agitated by the vibration the car makes as its moving.  Can't you add an attachment on the truck, so you can't loose so much bees.

[OutOfaBlueSky]

Some TBHs are not meant to be moved. Others will just be difficult.

[MsTokies]

wouldnt it better to have moved this hive at night or near before dawn