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Our KTBH's must be prime real estate for more than just our resident Carny's!

Every time I open the gabled lid of our tbh's (we have 2 hives), there is a small, just forming paper wasp nest with a...

I too started two hives this late April.

One hive has started very strong - got right to work and took their sugar syrup like champs, built comb like mad (in the right place), all good to go.
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You can transfer the bees from the catcher box to the main hive during the day, but you will find some of the forager bees still trying to go in and out of the catcher box though. They'll eventually...

Wonderful! I've been watching our first hives also - haven't yet seen a huge population addition through our observation windows...but I swear there are more bees in there now than I put in four...

Thank you for some insight. I suspected that the bees would do what the bees want to do with those 4 empty bars in the front. But as they're rapidly building now during our springtime flourish, I'd...

This is one addicting hobby! What fun this has become to see what's new in the hive, what color pollen is coming in, how much new comb is drawn, etc., etc.! Our KTBH has observation windows, so I...

In a similar situation as you - had to install into 2 new TBH's on April 20th - day AFTER a major flooding system throughout Chicagoland created a 4 acre lake as our backyard instead of a 2 acre...

Good job thinking like a bee!

Yes, fresh comb is so fragile! I know now is the time to straighten stuff out though - in about a week's time the bees will either have completely messed you up or have built so much brace comb...

In doing research on our TBH, I did find several companies who are making 'nice looking' TBH's for a small fortune. Although, if you're using Langs, you're already spending a lot of $$ on woodenware...

I did! Mine completely ignored this large hand stuck in their midst to get their feeder refilled. I did this during the middle of the day, when it was supposed to be warmest part of day and long...

1) Entrance hole - I cut 3/4" size holes in my hive - three in a row - and put a cork in two of the holes since it's so cold out right now (only 45 day and 20's night).

2) Feeding - is a 1:1...

I too installed last Saturday (4/20) my 2 new KTBH's. It's now been 5 days - and I went in to replenish the feeder and see what they've been up to. Due to a fiasco with the candy plug (none there!)...

Thank you for posting this question....our newly installed package moved into the roof instead of their hive also. I suspect the weather has come into play on this one - flooding rains yesterday and...

Well, with any luck, this 'pond' of ours will not hang around much beyond 3wks. The apiary location has to be re-determined...as it's presently up to the bottom board of my TBH...but with some...

Thank you for the helpful information!
I hadn't considered warming the syrup - that's ingenious! I give my chickens warm treats on cold wet days....makes sense to do so for new bees also!

Little...

I'm in need of some advice from those more experienced.

New beek - chickens 4yrs, garden 10+yrs, carpenter 20+ yrs. But in this case of bee installation, I'm flummoxed!

New KTBH with 1"...

Sounds like you've done a good job thus far!
Because the back of the hive (where the feeder is), isn't where the main nest is - go ahead and open the back of the hive to get to the feeder. ...

Thank you for the input. I'm actually building observation windows on each side of the hive - entrances are on the end.

After consideration and input from family - I'm going to build a notched...

For those with windows in your TBH....which way do your hinges attach the cover to the hive itself?

Up? - so the window hinges are at the top edge of the cover (providing shade from sun, but...

Yes, our Intro to beekeeping class from local forest preserve is run by a renowned Lang expert starting in 1933! So he's been around a while. In over 18hrs worth of classes, he allowed a whole...

Hello all!
We're a suburban Chicago family on 2 acres - interested more and more in self-sufficiency both for better products and for less cost. Our local beek dropped the neighborhood as a hive...