Installing bees into a Top Bar Hive differs from standard hives because you must secure the queen to a top bar first, rather than placing her between frames, before pouring the loose bees into the cavity. Success depends on restricting the colony's space with a follower board and providing immediate nutrition to stimulate wax production.
The Core Insight In a Top Bar Hive, the bees do not have pre-made foundation to walk on; they must build everything from scratch. Therefore, confining them to a small space (about 10 bars) and feeding them heavy syrup immediately is the only way to ensure they establish a home rather than absconding or starving.
Preparing the Hive Environment
Configure the Internal Space
Before opening the package of bees, you must limit the size of the hive cavity. Install a follower board (a movable divider) to restrict the colony's access to only about 10 top bars.
Create Access for Installation
Remove 5 to 6 top bars from the section you just created. This creates a wide opening in the top of the hive where you will eventually pour the bees.
Ensure Comb Guides are Present
Because Top Bar Hives lack foundation, bees need a visual guide to build straight comb. Ensure your top bars have a "starter strip," such as a wooden spline, a popsicle stick set in a groove, or a bead of beeswax.
The Installation Process
Positioning the Queen First
When working with a package or split where the queen is caged, she must be placed in the hive before the loose bees. Attach the queen cage to the center of a top bar using a tack or clip.
Queen Placement Strategy
Position this bar roughly 3 to 4 bars back from the entrance. Before final placement, remove the cork from the candy end of the cage so the workers can slowly chew through and release her.
Introducing the Colony
Once the queen is secured, take your package of loose bees and knock it against a corner to clump the bees to the bottom. Pour the bees through the opening you created, directly into the hive body.
Closing the Hive
Immediately replace the 5 to 6 top bars you removed earlier to seal the roof. Ensure the bars are pushed tightly together to prevent light leaks or escape routes.
Post-Installation Care
The Critical Role of Feeding
You must provide continuous feeding using a 1:1 sugar water solution. Since the bees must secrete wax to build their own combs, they require a massive amount of energy immediately upon arrival.
Verifying the Queen
Wait 3 to 5 days before disturbing the hive again to check on the queen. Open the hive and inspect the cage; if the queen has emerged, remove the empty cage.
Manual Release if Necessary
If the queen is still inside the cage after 5 days, you must intervene. Manually release her by opening the cork on the non-candy end, allowing her to walk out onto the comb.
Understanding the Trade-offs
Comb Fragility
Unlike framed hives, the comb in a Top Bar Hive is unsupported and hangs freely. During your initial inspections, you must keep the bars strictly vertical; tilting them can cause the heavy, soft new wax to break off and collapse.
The Risk of Cross-Combing
If you do not use the follower board to restrict space, bees may build comb across multiple bars rather than along them. Managing the space ensures they build straight, manageable combs on the guides you provided.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
- If your primary focus is rapid establishment: Feed 1:1 syrup continuously until the colony has drawn out honeycomb on at least 10 top bars.
- If your primary focus is colony retention: Do not disturb the hive for at least 3 hours after installation, then briefly check that the cluster has gathered around the queen.
- If your primary focus is winter survival: Aggressively manage the follower board throughout the season, expanding only when 1-2 empty bars remain, to keep the thermal mass concentrated.
Properly restricting the space and feeding heavily is the difference between a thriving Top Bar colony and an empty box.
Summary Table:
| Step | Key Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Space Control | Install Follower Board | Limits cavity size to 10 bars to prevent absconding and cross-comb. |
| Queen Prep | Secure Queen to Top Bar | Ensures the colony clusters around the center of the new hive. |
| Installation | Pour Bees into Open Cavity | Introduces the colony quickly while queen is in place. |
| Feeding | 1:1 Sugar Water Solution | Provides energy for wax secretion and building natural foundation. |
| Verification | Inspect after 3-5 days | Confirms queen release and initial comb building progress. |
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