View Full Version : Aah! bees tomorrow. brood bars vs honey bars?
spiritfreedom
05-09-2009, 11:45 AM
I apologize for the frantic (and maybe ignorant) post. I searched my biobees book and can't seem to find out the answer to this question. What is the difference between honey bars and brood bars?
When I posted two days ago and said I had chosen to make a kerf in the underside of my top bars and fill it with beeswax, I was told that was quite inferior to something protruding down from my top bars. So I spent the day altering all of them to allow for that.
Now I am wondering whether they should be placed directly alongside each other or whether I need to space them out with bars that have no guide for the bees.
*stressed girl* :doh:
Natalie
05-09-2009, 01:50 PM
Just to clarify? Are you asking if you can use both bars, the ones with the kerf and then some with a guide?
Joseph Clemens
05-09-2009, 02:01 PM
It may be that you are referring to the fact that some TBH beekeepers use top bars that are wider for honey storage and narrower ones for brood nest. The trick may be to get the bees to cooperate and use the appropriate top bars of the correct widths for the appropriate purposes.
Natalie
05-09-2009, 03:27 PM
You are right, I just read it over again.
I made mine all the same size but I would not space them out using flat bars between them, thats way too much space.
Someone with more experience can give you more help than I but you only give them access to 8-12 bars at a time depending on the size of your hive and how many bars you have total.
If all your bars are the same size they will use them for honey or brood when the time comes.
If you have a follower board just give them access to several bars for now and add more in as they need them.
spiritfreedom
05-09-2009, 04:56 PM
Just to clarify? Are you asking if you can use both bars, the ones with the kerf and then some with a guide?
Nope. Not asking that, although that *is* something to ponder.
I am wondering if I should put bars in between the top bars that they build off. Bars that have no groove or guide for them. Just to provide space in between the comb.
Natalie
05-09-2009, 08:38 PM
All the space they need is provided by the width of the bars.
I have read that some will put in spacers for the honey and brood but not when your are first starting out a package of bees.
You just give them several brood bars for now.
Are all your bars the same size or did you make different sizes for brood and honey?
I am wondering if I should put bars in between the top bars that they build off.
No, not bars. Some people use spacers but those are only 1/8" wide and meant to make the honey storage bars seem wider. Bees like to make the honey comb wider (deeper cells) than the brood comb. Some people build two size bars (1 1/2" for honey 1 1/4 for brood) but you might be better off with one size for both (1 3/8")
Michael Bush
05-09-2009, 10:31 PM
Center to center combs are 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" wide in general with brood typically more in the 1 1/4" range and honey storage more int he 1 1/2" range. If all your bars are the same size and they are in that range, then push them all together. If half are skinnier and are in that range, then put the skinny ones at the front and install the bees there. If your bars are wider or skinnier than that range I would rework them or build spacers.