I just can't stand the looks of the white hives sitting in my field. Every time I see the hives, they look like big white piles of garbage. I just bought 5 gallons of light tan exterior latex paint and will be going with that. It's got some fancy name like Sierra Lacey Sand Mist, but it's light tan. I am probably about to break some unknown law of beekeeping............
I have a few red hives, a few sky blue, a few avacado gree, a few whatever... I cover them with corrugated tin sun-shades, so the color does have much effect. No black hives though.
I often check with the local paint stores for mismatched paint. They sell it at a very nice discount. I stick with light colors, mainly: tans, greys, blues, greens, yellows and off whites. I don't like dark colors because I'm worried they will heat of the hives too much in the middle of the summer. I have also heard that dark colors can irritate the bees. Lastly, in a bee yard with lots of hives a little variation in paint color from hive to hive can help the bees orient themselves easier.
Gosh, am I the only one who likes white hives? I paint 99% of my hives pure white. A friend donated to me a few sky blue and red/pink hives and my wife hates them! She say it makes the yard look junky. I agree. The few that aren't white are dark brown, which seem to work well too.
OK-but I went completely scientific and chose Green Monta Fenway Park Green for my boxes. I even went so far and am experimenting with simple graphics to see if it makes a difference. Maybe the bees come home after a long day and forget what apartment building they are in, so I am trying to give them something that identifies their crib. Obviously a newbie and don't have a lot of spare time, but my local hardware guy knew the 'secret' pantone color code for the Monsta and said he could mix me up a batch of tinted latex primer. I never asked the bees if they were or are Sox fans? Some are from Georgia and the others are from Louisiana I am told. They like baseball down there too- don't they?
Having fun and the little things don't like RAIN DELAYS!
Per wife's request, all equipment is the colors used on our house.
Pic of the Nuc condos too.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Beesource Beekeeping Forums
1.8M posts
54.7K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to beekeeping, bee owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, honey production, health, behavior, hives, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!