Tag Archives: KTBH

This video is the result of training regarding the Kenya top bar hive or KTBH conducted in Jacquesyl Haiti in July of 2009 as funded by USAID and administered through Partners of the Americas. As you can see, the inclusion of stretcher handles onto the KTBH allows it to be easily carried and also facilitates hanging the hive for protection from ants and other pests as well as bush fires—which are often used to clear land where such hives are used. The handles also give you a convenient place to hold comb removed from the hive during hive inspections. If you leave the ends of the hive rectangular as shown here you may have to cut small recesses for the handles to ensure that they are not too far apart for a top bar to straddle. You may want to view some of my other videos on the KTBH for a fuller explanation of its design and use. Suffice it to say here that the width of the top bars, 35 mm for European derived bees and 32 mm for African derived stock, the trapezoidal cross section of the interior and wax guides along the length of the topbars allows bees to build comb with minimal attachment to the sides and bottom of the hive so that the comb can be easily removed for inspection or harvesting. If you find the queen during the transfer you can place her in a screen cage to protect her during the operation. A match box or film canister with holes punched in it large enough for the workers to feed the queen but not so large that she can escape can also be used. In any case …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Talon explains the ins and outs of topbar beekeeping. He explains the role of th workrs, the drones and maybe he will find th queen bee as well. Sign up for the ecoversity beekeeping classes–you will be happ¥ you did.
Video Rating: 4 / 5