When you are starting out, one of the most important choices is the type of beehive you’ll use. There are several types in use today and any one you choose will involve an investment of money as well as an investment in learning the techniques for that particular method of beekeeping. Most beginning beekeepers will opt between a Langstroth-style hive and a top-bar hive, but an increasingly popular form is the Warré hive, a modified, vertical version of the top-bar design. Whatever style you choose to begin your hobby, it’s a good idea to start small, so that if you decide to shift methods, you won’t have wasted too much money or effort. Here are four common types of beehives to choose from as you begin beekeeping.
Supplies and informational support are easy to find.
A slight difference in equipment, however, is usually found with different manufacturers. This is likely due to the tools used in building the boxes and is expected.
If you plan to start with more than one hive, it is a good idea to buy your boxes and related equipment from the same manufacturer. In more elaborate versions of this style, the brooding area for the bees is established by a divider board that confines the first 8 to 10 bars adjacent to the opening of the hive, where the bees enter and exit. As the colony grows, and comb and honey fill the bars, the divider board is moved laterally and more bars are added. Harvesting is a matter of simply lifting out the bars once they are covered with honey-filled comb.
Combs can break off or form improperly.
The comb will likely be destroyed when honey is extracted. This means the bees must use more resources to rebuild comb which can reduce honey production. In this design, the bees build comb from the top bars downward into each box. As more space is needed, additional boxes can be added to the bottom of the hive. Thus, the upper boxes are the first to fill with honey. Warré hives are designed for minimal inspections by the beekeeper. You cannot remove bars for inspection in a traditional Warré hive because as the bees build comb, they attach it to the inside of the hive walls. The cavity size is meant to allow the bees to consume their winter stores more efficiently and the overall design is meant to keep the bees warmer in cold climates. Harvesting is a matter of removing upper boxes once they are full of honey. Bees are allowed to escape or are removed from the open box, then the comb is cut away from the bars and the honey pressed out. Harvesting is done in later summer or fall to ensure the boxes are full and that brooding bees have moved to lower boxes. Although these hives are not as common as Langstroth or even top-bar hives, they are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, especially among hobbyist beekeepers who want to do things in a more “natural” way.
The Queen can access all frames for laying brood which complicates and fouls the honey crop.
The comb is destroyed when honey is extracted. This means the bees must use more resources to rebuild comb which can reduce honey production. Decide how much time and effort you want to devote to beekeeping and this will help determine what type of set up will best serve your purposes.
