Follower boards act as the movable "dummy walls" within a Top Bar Hive, giving the beekeeper precise control over the colony's living space. Unlike fixed-volume hives, these dividers allow you to manually resize the interior cavity to match the exact population size of the bees. This capability is the cornerstone of managing the horizontal expansion and contraction of the colony throughout the seasons.
Core Insight: The follower board is the primary mechanism for thermal regulation in a Top Bar Hive. By eliminating unused empty space, it drastically reduces the heating load on the colony, allowing bees to conserve energy for survival rather than wasting it heating a void.
The Mechanics of Volume Control
Regulating Hive Temperature
The most critical function of the follower board is thermal conservation. In a large, empty cavity, a small cluster of bees struggles to maintain the necessary warmth.
By sliding the follower board closer to the bee cluster, you reduce the internal volume of the hive. This minimizes the "dead air" space the colony must heat, stabilizing the internal temperature efficiently.
Managing Seasonal Expansion
Top Bar Hives are designed for horizontal growth, and the follower board facilitates this natural progression. As the colony grows in the spring and summer, you move the board back to reveal more empty bars for comb construction.
Conversely, as the colony contracts before winter, you move the board forward. This ensures the bees are always confined to a space appropriate for their numbers.
Specialized Functions for Feeding
Using Solid Boards
A solid follower board creates a complete barrier within the hive. This type is primarily used for insulation, trapping heat near the brood nest.
It creates a distinct "end" to the hive, behind which you can store supplemental winter feed or insulation materials without the bees accessing that area directly.
Using Boards with Access Holes
Some follower boards are designed with a small hole or gap. This design serves a logistical role during feeding seasons.
The hole allows bees to pass through the divider to access an inner-hive feeder placed in the empty section of the hive. This keeps the messy business of feeding separate from the main brood nest while keeping the feeder protected inside the hive body.
Critical Considerations for Use
The Requirement for Active Management
Using follower boards effectively requires vigilance. Top Bar Hives already demand active management to prevent issues like cross-comb building.
Similarly, you must monitor the colony's growth to ensure you move the board at the right time. If you fail to expand the space, the colony may swarm; if you fail to contract it in winter, they may freeze.
Proper Fit is Essential
The effectiveness of a follower board relies on it being a true divider. If the fit is poor, bees may bypass it or drafty air may leak through.
Ensure the board moves smoothly but fits snugly against the hive walls to maintain the thermal integrity of the cluster's area.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
Whether you are preparing for winter dormancy or spring buildup, the position and type of your follower board dictate success.
- If your primary focus is Overwintering: Use a solid follower board to aggressively reduce the hive volume, minimizing the space the cluster must heat.
- If your primary focus is Supplemental Feeding: Use a follower board with an access hole to allow bees to reach internal feeders while maintaining a separate, clean brood area.
Mastering the follower board transforms the hive from a static box into a dynamic environment that adapts to the bees' immediate needs.
Summary Table:
| Feature/Function | Description | Primary Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal Regulation | Minimizes "dead air" by shrinking hive volume. | Significant energy conservation for the cluster. |
| Volume Control | Adjusts the interior cavity to match bee population. | Prevents swarming and improves hive defensibility. |
| Solid Boards | Creates a complete barrier for insulation. | Essential for overwintering and heat retention. |
| Access Hole Boards | Allows bees to pass through to a separate area. | Enables safe, internal supplemental feeding. |
| Seasonal Flexibility | Facilitates horizontal expansion/contraction. | Adapts the hive environment to natural colony cycles. |
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