Crafted for Wyoming - The Kenyan Top Bar Hive

Hey Bee Enthusiasts! 🌸🐝 -Behold, the Kenyan top bar hive designed with love for Wyoming’s climate. Print this image for a tangible copy.

The Vision

Picture this: a functional top bar hive that’s not just a home for bees, but a masterpiece designed with purpose. Here’s what makes it special:

• Easily built: No rocket science, just good vibes and straightforward construction.
• Conventional materials: Nothing fancy, just your regular materials doing extraordinary things.
• 3 to 4 deep supers: Because, hey, bees deserve spacious homes too!
• Low to the ground: Protecting from wind tantrums and curious cattle.
• Hand truck-friendly: Easy moves, no sweat!
• Wind-tight: Ensuring comfort in Wyoming’s rugged climate.
• Winter warrior: Ready to face the harsh winter like a champ.

The Hive Body

Crafted from 1″ x 6″ x 6′ lumber, the hive body is a testament to simplicity meeting functionality:

• Three boards high sides.
• Three boards wide bottom.
• An 8-degree slope off vertical for that perfect touch.

And that shallower slope? It’s a game-changer, making room for standard deep frames beneath the top bars.

The Grand Entrances

Two entrances, one on each end. Plug one, let the other be. Flexibility is the name of the game – whether it’s giving a nuc some room or offering extra ventilation, this hive’s got options!

The Top Bars

I’ve got a favorite: 1 1/4″ width, 1″ thick, and a 22″ length. A 1/8 inch saw kerf down the center makes it a top bar like no other.

Starter strips? Minimal. I fill that kerf with molten beeswax, a second layer on top, and bam – a strong, easy-to-store top bar with a slightly raised beeswax line.

Need a wider comb width? No problem! Insert 1/4″ strips between top bars in the honey storage area, and you’re good to go. Remove them when the wood swells for a hassle-free hive removal.

Oh, and don’t forget the spacer cleats – the unsung heroes maintaining the perfect beespace!

The Smart Cover

The covers, born from 3/4″ lumber and covered in 1/2″ OSB, are a snug fit insulated with 2″ of blue foam. Telescoping down to cover the ends of the top bars, these covers are either sloped and shingled for water resistance or flat with sheet metal or corrugated roofing.

Sure, the sloped ones looked chic, but the flat covers? Easy, peasy, and stackable!

So, there you have it – the buzzworthy Kenyan top bar hive, crafted with passion and built for Wyoming’s buzzing residents. ✨

-Keep buzzing, M 🐝🤠