In a top bar hive, a follower board functions as a movable interior wall. Its primary purpose is to reduce the hive's internal volume, allowing a beekeeper to precisely match the available space to the colony's current size. This makes the hive more manageable for a small, developing colony and can be adjusted as the bee population grows.
The core principle behind a follower board is to help the bees manage their environment more efficiently. By confining a new colony to a smaller, more defensible space, it conserves their energy, improves thermoregulation, and supports healthy, controlled growth.
Why a Smaller Space Creates a Stronger Start
A full-length top bar hive can be an intimidatingly large space for a new package of bees or a small swarm. A follower board effectively creates a smaller "starter home" within the larger structure, which provides several critical advantages.
Enhancing Thermoregulation
A colony must maintain a stable temperature and humidity level, especially in the brood nest where young bees are raised. Heating and conditioning a large, empty cavity requires an immense amount of energy.
By reducing the volume with a follower board, you allow the bees to control their climate far more efficiently. This conserved energy can be redirected toward critical tasks like drawing comb, raising brood, and foraging.
Improving Colony Defense
A small colony in a large space has a vast, undefended territory. This makes the hive vulnerable to pests like wax moths and small hive beetles, which can quickly establish themselves in the empty comb and dark corners.
A follower board concentrates the bee population, ensuring that every inch of their living space is actively patrolled. This creates a strong, defensible perimeter that is much more difficult for intruders to breach.
Focusing Comb Construction
When given too much space, a new colony may not build comb in a neat, orderly fashion. A follower board provides a physical boundary that encourages the bees to build straight, organized comb on the bars you have provided.
The Follower Board as a Management Tool
Beyond helping a new colony get established, the follower board is one of the most important management tools for a top bar beekeeper.
Guiding a Natural Expansion
As the colony's population grows and they begin to fill their allotted space, the beekeeper can simply slide the follower board down the hive. This provides more room for expansion.
This process mimics the way bees would naturally expand their nest in a hollow log or tree cavity, growing incrementally as the colony's needs dictate.
A Key to Swarm Prevention
One of the primary triggers for swarming is overcrowding. When bees feel they are running out of space for brood and honey, their natural impulse is to divide the colony and find a new home.
By proactively moving the follower board to provide more space before the hive becomes congested, you can significantly reduce this swarming impulse.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
While highly effective, the benefits of a follower board depend on proper timing and use. Mismanagement can negate its advantages.
The Risk of Expanding Too Late
If you fail to move the follower board as the colony grows, you will create the exact overcrowding you are trying to prevent. The bees will become "honey bound" or "brood bound," which is a powerful trigger for swarming.
The Risk of Expanding Too Soon
Giving the colony too much space too early defeats the purpose of the follower board. This can reintroduce the problems of poor thermoregulation and a weakened defense against pests, placing unnecessary stress on the bees.
Ensuring a Proper Fit
A follower board should fit snugly against the sides and bottom of the hive. Large gaps can encourage bees to build rogue comb behind the board or allow pests to access the unused portion of the hive.
How to Use Your Follower Board Effectively
Your approach should change based on the colony's stage of development and the time of year.
- If you are installing a new package or small swarm: Place the follower board to give the bees just a few bars more than they initially occupy, creating a tight, manageable space.
- If you are managing an established colony: Move the follower board to add 2-3 new bars of space once the bees have drawn comb on about 80% of their available bars.
- If you are preparing for winter: Use the follower board to reduce the hive volume to match the smaller winter cluster size, helping the bees conserve heat and resources.
Ultimately, the follower board transforms your top bar hive from a static box into a dynamic environment you can perfectly adapt to your colony's needs.
Summary Table:
| Purpose | Key Benefit |
|---|---|
| Space Management | Adjusts hive volume to match colony size for efficient growth. |
| Thermoregulation | Helps bees maintain brood nest temperature, conserving energy. |
| Colony Defense | Concentrates bees for a stronger perimeter against pests. |
| Swarm Prevention | Proactive space management reduces swarming impulses. |
Ready to equip your apiary with professional-grade top bar hive components?
As a trusted wholesale supplier to commercial apiaries and equipment distributors, HONESTBEE provides the durable, well-designed beekeeping supplies you need to succeed. Our products, including precision-made follower boards, are built to support healthy colonies and maximize your operational efficiency.
Contact HONESTBEE today to discuss your wholesale needs and discover how our equipment can contribute to your bottom line.
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