Beekeeping Hives - Which Are The Best and Where Should You Build Them?
If you are looking to take care of bees, either as a hobby of with a window to make money
, one of the most important things to consider is where you are going to house them. Beekeeping hives come in a variety of structures and designs and it is a good idea to research each thoroughly before building your hive.
One type of beehive that is becoming increasingly popular is the top-bar hive. This model consists of a number of bars that are attached to ceiling inside the hive. This allows the bees to deposit their honey combs directly onto the bars whilst they are building their hive. Top-bar hives are ideal for specialist beekeepers as the honey that is produced is often purer and of a higher quality than that found in a regular hive. However, the top-bar method is also not particularly cost effective as the bars can only be used once and must be replaced once they have been filled by the bees.
A much more common form of hive is the Langstroth hive. A number of movable frames are found in this hive where the bees can insert their honey directly into the combs provided. The frames are also not fastened at the top or bottom, allowing the beekeeper to easily remove them and scrape out the honey when harvesting. Wax is often used as the foundation of the Langstroth hive because it provides bees with the ideal substance on which to build their combs. Most people starting out as beekeepers choose the Langstroth hive due to its ease of use and proven results.
You should also think carefully about where you place your hive when you have decided which model you want to use. Keeping the hive as hidden as possible is a good idea as bees have many natural predators who feed on their honey, including bears and skunks. The mouth of the hive should also be placed facing a nearby source of flowers. When bees leave their hive to forage for food, they head off in a straight line from wherever the front of the hive is pointing. Directing them towards flowers will ensure that they don't fly into a neighbor's garden and cause a nuisance.
Beekeeping Hives - Which Are The Best and Where Should You Build Them?