burke_co_farmer1776
03-30-2008, 04:13 PM
I have a question about the use of the Top Bar hive in hard winter areas.What i have read about the Top Bar Hive it is mainly used in tropical and temporate areas.But has anyone tried useing them in areas where winters can be severe.Like in upstate New York
shawnwri
03-30-2008, 07:41 PM
http://bushfarms.com/beestopbarhives.htm
Question: Some people say that TBH's don't winter well in cold climates. Do they?
Answer: I have them in Nebraska and others have them places as cold as Casper Wyoming. I have heard NO reports from anyone keeping bees in top bar hives that they don't overwinter well in cold climates. I have only heard it from people who have not attempted it. It is a good plan to get the cluster to one end at the beginning of winter so they can work their way to the other end over winter. If they are in the middle they may work their way to one end and starve with stores at the other end. The bigger problems are having top bar hives in very HOT climates and yet people seem to do that as well. I have the most problems on the over a hundred degree F days when I have comb collapses.