F.A.Q.
Many have asked about the specifics of the Garden Hive so here goes:
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How big is the Garden Hive?
The hive interior has 24 bars and a follower board, the clear height inside is a little over 8″ and the bars are 14 1/2″. The volume is around 1 1/3 cubic feet.
The top bars are 36″ above the ground. Overall the hive is nearly 4′ long. and abut 13″ high without the stand.
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Can I paint my hive?
Yes, you can. The cypress used on the exterior of the hive is rough textured, however, so the painted surface will be rough textured. A good coat of exterior paint is the best way to preserve wood outside, just don’t paint inside the hive. The queen likes to do her own decorating.
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What is the feeder like?
The feeder is a quart glass jar with several small holes punched in the top and set up-side down on a block that allows the bees to get at it from underneath. The bees can reach the syrup with their long tongues, but the small holes keep drips to a minimum. There is also no danger of drowning.
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How do I keep my bees warm in the winter?
Believe it or not, bees can survive sub zero temperatures with no problem so long as there are a couple of 50 degree F days in each winter month so that frozen honey stores can be thawed and moved closer to the cluster. In very cold weather the bees will not travel more than an inch or so to retrieve honey for nourishment and frozen honey will not be accessible to them. If you have very cold winters you have few options. You can let your bees die and replace them in the spring, or you can place your hives in a building heated to around 40 degrees and provide them access to the outside. In this way you will prevent the honey from freezing, but not have the hive temperature so warm that the bees are lured outside where they will perish in the cold. It is also important that the hive is ventilated so that condensation of water from the bees and from atmospheric conditions does not build up in the hive and kill the colony. If you find the window glass fogged or frosted you will need to open a ventilator immediately. Too much moisture in the hive will kill your bees! Be sure the hive’s location is not in a damp area.
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I live in a hot climate. How do I keep my bees from overheating?
Bees cool their hive by evaporating water. They do this by moving air through the hive with their wings. Hundreds of bees will coordinate their wing movements to cool the hive to their preferred temperature of 92 – 95 degrees F. The beekeeper must make sure there is a constant source of clean water near the hive. The keeper should also place the hive so it is sheltered from the midday sun. Beeswax melts at only 140 – 150 degrees Fahrenheit and softens at around 100 degrees so anything the keeper can do to help is important.
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How do you help me get bees?
We can find the nearest beekeeping groups in your area. Fellow beekeepers are by far the best sources of knowledge and bees. While many beekeepers have never used a top bar hive like the Garden Hive, the basics of caring for bees are the same. We also have a page on the site we call “Looking for Bees?” which lists suppliers of hybrid bees and queens throughout the U.S.
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I already have a veil and hive tool. Can I save money by not including them?
Of course. We are now offering a la carte pricing for those who do not want one of our packages.
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How long does it take to receive my Garden Hive after I order it?
Spring is our busy season and we struggle to keep up. We promise to ship your hive within two weeks of your order. If we see that we are unable to meet that commitment we will let you know at the time of order. We do not finalize your credit card charges until close to shipping time.
