Having extensively researched the various kinds of hives available, I have decided to use a top bar as this seems the cheapest and easiest to maintain. I have seen a few DIY guides to making top bar hives from old containers, wardrobes, etc. but had an idea that I could use a straw skep, upturned, with bars placed over what would have been the bottom and a roof of some sort (I have a small disused ex-outhouse in the garden which I thought I could place the hive in for shelter).
Would this work? I've read that traditionally, in order to recover honey from skeps, one had to kill the bees but I imagine this design would function as a simple removable top bar hive. I've seen similar designs to this where the skep has a removable roof but can't find any of these to purchase in the UK, and thought this may be a viable solution.
Never kept bees before, read a lot about it, keen to start, grateful for advice.
Zosolm.
Would this work? I've read that traditionally, in order to recover honey from skeps, one had to kill the bees but I imagine this design would function as a simple removable top bar hive. I've seen similar designs to this where the skep has a removable roof but can't find any of these to purchase in the UK, and thought this may be a viable solution.
Never kept bees before, read a lot about it, keen to start, grateful for advice.
Zosolm.