kenya top bar hive

[3pepper]

what is the differencs in honey production between a ktbh , a lang. , and a long tbh hive ?? i have one lang. it has 2 deeps and 3 shallows . i would like to have a few more hives and i am thinking of building one or more hives this week . i have the wood left over from other jobs . i am mainly curious about the difference in honey production . is the difference significant or in a hobby/home hive is the difference even noticeable . also are they enjoyable to work with . who has the best design . also would you plan a top entrance or bottom . i don't know why but i like the look of the tbh hive both the kenya and the long deep . i saw them on bush bees web site
thanks for all the help
3pepper

[Michael Bush]

Managing the long hives takes a bit more attention. Not more work but more times getting into the hive and a bit different managment. If managed well I think you can get about the same amount from any hive, vertical or horizontal. If managed poorly, of course, they will swarm. To keep a long hive from swarming I've had to feed combs into the brood nest to get the brood nest to expand enough. This requires more frequent inspections. Harvesting also requires more requent trips to the beeyard. This isn't very practical if your yards are a long ways away.

Mine all have a top entrance. It was the simplest to do (didn't require any holes in the box) and it keeps the mice out and the skunks off.

[kayakdg]

Hi I have 3 top bar hives. I don't think they produce as much honey as a lang. What they do is produce the best cut comb honey. I take my gear to box the comb honey to the bee yard and package the combs on my tail gate. Good Luck Dan

[3pepper]

cut comb is my favorite . my bee yard is at the edge of my orchard , i'm up there every day . i like the idea of harvesting and packaging on the spot . i'm gona have to build one or two
thanks

[squarehead]

I want to try a top bar hive but IM consigned about ventilation, like how is it ventilated?

[Michael Bush]

>I want to try a top bar hive but IM consigned about ventilation, like how is it ventilated?

I've had them with SBB and with solid bottoms. I've never seen any more bearding than I see in the SBB top entrance langstroths I hive, which is none except on very hot nights.