How many bars on a new package

[ncsteeler]

Long time listener, first time poster. Ya'll have a great forum here for a newbie like me.

I have searched the forum high and low and have found a lot of info. But I can't seem to find many suggestions for how many Bars should I allow the bees access to on a new 3lb package install. I built two 28 bar TBHs and I'm picking the bees up saturday . Any suggestions? I was thinking something around 12-14 to start??

[Cacklewack]

I've just given my first 10 top bar hives 8 bars to begin with. I read this somewhere else, but I can't recall where. Once they draw out enough I'll give them access to more.

Matt

[standman]

If your TBH is typical construction, the frame size amounts to a medium or deep. Most people with Langs install their packages in a single of either of those depths. So anything from 8-12 top bars/frames worth should be about right.

[ncsteeler]

Thanks for the responses. I guess it is natural, but I am getting more nervous each day that I'm going to screw it up.

[REWERT]

I have made 1-3/8 for brood bars and 1-1/2 for honey insead of one size of bars and adding spacers. However, my question would apply to either case; when do you change size bars (or add spacers)? I am installing 2 packages to new hives this afternoon and am not sure how to place the bars. I was planning on at least 8 brood bars to start but how do I know when to make the transistion to honey bars? I don't want to 'force' the bees to do anything they don't want to do but how do I know when they want to 'switch sizes' (or for those using spacers, when to add a spacer)?