Robbing Bees in TBH?

[Hoover67]

I just spoke with the guy that I am getting my nucs from. When he found out that I was putting them in a TBH, he pretty much said I was robbing the bees. . . meaning that I was taking the comb from the bees. He also said it was a lot of work to have a TBH. This is opposite of what I have heard here. I am panicing a little now! Have I made the wrong choice?

Should I add any empty frames in between them? when I hive them tonight? Or should I just put them in the hive with the follower boards? How many top bars should I put in them?
Michele

[buckbee]

I just spoke with the guy that I am getting my nucs from. When he found out that I was putting them in a TBH, he pretty much said I was robbing the bees. . . meaning that I was taking the comb from the bees. He also said it was a lot of work to have a TBH. This is opposite of what I have heard here. I am panicing a little now! Have I made the wrong choice?

Had he ever run a TBH? Had he even seen a TBH up close?


Should I add any empty frames in between them? when I hive them tonight? Or should I just put them in the hive with the follower boards? How many top bars should I put in them?

Let them settle for a day or two, especially if it is not warm there. Put them in the hive and put enough top bars over them to make the space look about right. Use your own judgement. Don't panic: the bees know what they are doing!:)

[Hanover Honey]

You have not made a wrong choice, just a different choice. My bee club has about 200 members 40-50 of wich are active. When I told them I was going to do a TBH, some said I was crazy and most had no idea wha I was talking about. No one had ever done it themselves.
My TBH is by far the most interesting to watch and work. I don't care if I ever get honey from it (but I know I will), I will never not have at leat one TBH as long as I keep bees!
Don't stress, the bees will take care of you.

[smgchandler]

hanover i was glad to read your comments here - i am very very new to beekeeping and i only have two lang boxes that the paint is still fresh on but i have read about the bth and i do plan at some point and time having one beside my medium 8 boxes - i think they look simple and i believe with the right plans i can even make one myself - i have the lumber and all i needed to read was your post - i guess i need to get my first two going and then worry about the other next year maybe :D

[Hoover67]

I drove 35-40 miles with my six kids to pick up the bees. He made a mistake and only had one queen that was laying. It did look weak but being the nonconfrontational person I am, I took it and brought it home.

I put it in the hive - only four frames. I put one frame in between but I guess that was a mistake. I will remove it tomorrow if I need too.

One of the frames had some come on the side which prevented it from fitting right next to the other. I kept the order of the frames. I tried to squish them as close together as possible. Does this make any sense? Should I have just cut it off?

Michele

[Hambone]

I've only had my TBH for almost two weeks now, and find it very easy to work. Granted I don't have any Lang equipment to compare it to. I thought this was so easy to work that I had another one built. It just got done yesterday:) Now I just need some more bees. Anyway. There are alot of very respected people on this site. Ex. M. Bush, Buckbee ect.. and they will be happy to answer any question you have. Also, look at my post of the last week. Its amazing what they have done in 12 days!