Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[LightFoote]

Greetings ~ I am looking at the Top Bar Hive Plan (page 51 in our copy) in the Barefoot Beekeeper book. The end view of this diagram shows something under the lid labeled Condenser Box Or Feeder. This seems to be the only place that this is mentioned. How can I get more details of what this looks like? Thank you!

[Barbara]

Hi and welcome

To be honest I don't think many of us who have made and use horizontal TBHs have a quilt/condenser. As regards a feeder, there are numerous options and ideas of varying simplicity or complexity of construction depending on your level of skill and enthusiasm for DIY. In general, once a colony is up and running and through their first year, there is usually not any real need to feed them in subsequent years unless there are extreme weather conditions, so I just cobble something together if and when I need one. Most recently I have used empty plastic food jars which I have pricked holes in the lid of and inverted and placed on a board with a hole just smaller than the jar lid above a second board with thin runners on it, creating a 1/4 inch gap between the two boards for the bees to get underneath the jar and access the syrup. I place this either next to the colony enclosed by the follower board or behind the follower board with a hole cut in it, so that they can get through.
In the autumn I place insulation over the top bars but this can range from a straw filled pillow case to old feather pillows, to an old wool blanket or anything that will insulate, breath and absorb a bit of moisture. Actually the insulation could stay on right through the year, particularly if you get hot summers, to help prevent the colony getting too hot and suffering comb collapse.
I don't know if Phil has created specific plans for a quilt for his hive but all I'm saying is that it isn't necessary and not to worry about it as it is not essential.

Regards

Barbara

[biobee]

As Barbara said, it was an idea some people played with, and while it works as well as insulation as a condenser, old pillows, blankets, straw, etc all work just as well.

The impoertant thing is to keep heat IN in winter and OUT in summer.