To introduce bees into a top bar hive, you must first prepare the hive by creating a small, manageable space with a feeder. The primary methods involve installing a purchased bee package, hiving a captured swarm, or transferring a nucleus colony, with each method requiring a slightly different technique for releasing the bees and securing the queen.
The goal of a successful installation is not merely to get the bees inside the box, but to create a stable, resource-rich environment that convinces the new colony to accept the hive as their permanent home and begin building comb.
Foundational Hive Preparation
Before your bees arrive, you must prepare the hive to be a welcoming and secure space. This setup is critical for encouraging the colony to stay and thrive.
Create an Initial Cavity
First, open the hive's main cover. Remove approximately five to six top bars from one end of the hive. This creates the open cavity where you will pour or place the bees.
Set the Boundary
Place a divider board (also known as a follower board) into the hive where you removed the last top bar. This board creates a temporary back wall, confining the bees to a smaller, more manageable space that they can warm and defend more easily.
Provide Immediate Resources
Inside this newly defined space, place a feeder. For a new colony, a 1:1 sugar water solution is essential. This mixture provides the carbohydrates they need to produce wax and begin the critical task of drawing out new comb.
Manage Access and Security
Ensure only one entrance to the hive is open, and reduce its size to a very small opening. A weak, new colony is a prime target for robber bees from other hives, and a small entrance is easier for them to defend.
Installation Methods: A Practical Guide
The exact method for getting bees into the hive depends on their source. Each scenario—a package, a swarm, or an established nucleus colony—has a distinct process.
Installing a Bee Package
A bee package is a wooden-framed screen box containing several pounds of bees and a caged queen. Gently spray the bees with sugar water to calm them and encourage clustering.
Remove the queen cage and securely attach it to the center of a top bar, ensuring the candy plug is accessible to the bees. Then, turn the package over and gently shake the bees into the open hive cavity.
Hiving a Captured Swarm
A captured swarm is typically clustered on a branch or in a temporary container. The goal is to transfer this entire cluster into the hive.
You can achieve this by holding the branch or container over the open hive cavity and giving it a sharp shake, causing the bees to fall in. Alternatively, you can gently brush the bees into the hive. Since a swarm has its established queen, there is no need to handle a queen cage.
Transferring a Nucleus Colony (Nuc)
A nuc, whether from a Langstroth hive or another top bar hive, contains established frames of comb, brood, and honey. This method involves carefully transferring that existing comb.
If transferring from a Langstroth hive, you will need to cut the comb from the wooden frame and carefully attach it to your top bars, often using string or rubber bands to hold it in place until the bees secure it with new wax.
Understanding the Risks and Trade-offs
A smooth installation minimizes stress on the bees and mitigates common problems that can cause a new colony to fail.
The Risk of Leaky Feeders
A poorly sealed or constructed internal feeder can leak sugar syrup into the hive. This can drown bees, chill the brood, and potentially harm the queen, creating a sticky mess that disrupts the entire colony.
The Danger of Robbing
As mentioned, a new colony is weak and has minimal resources. The smell of sugar syrup can attract stronger hives from the area, who may invade the hive to steal its food, a behavior known as robbing. This can quickly destroy a new colony.
The Possibility of Absconding
If the bees do not find their new environment suitable, they may decide to leave, or abscond. This can happen if the hive is too large, drafty, or lacks an immediate food source. Proper hive preparation is your best defense against this.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
After installation, carefully replace the top bars, close the lid, and leave the bees undisturbed for several days, ensuring their feeder remains full. Your specific focus will depend on your starting point.
- If you are a beginner starting with a package: Focus on securing the queen cage correctly and providing consistent, non-leaking feeding to fuel comb construction.
- If you have captured a local swarm: Your priority is a gentle installation and ensuring they have enough sugar syrup to immediately begin building their new home.
- If you are transferring an established colony (Nuc or Split): Your primary challenge is carefully fitting the existing comb to the top bars without damaging the delicate brood or the queen.
By properly preparing the hive and thoughtfully managing the installation, you give your new colony the strongest possible start.
Summary Table:
| Method | Key Steps | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Bee Package | Install queen cage, shake bees into hive. | Beginners starting a new colony. |
| Captured Swarm | Shake or brush the swarm cluster into the hive. | Beekeepers with access to local swarms. |
| Nucleus Colony (Nuc) | Transfer and attach existing comb to top bars. | Beekeepers expanding or transferring an established colony. |
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