Making A Package Of Bees From A Top Bar Hive With Sam Comfort

August 29, 2012 by Anita Deeley

Making A Package Of Bees From A Top Bar Hive With Sam Comfort

At the Treatment Free Beekeeping Conference last month, Sam Comfort demonstrated how to make a package of bees from a top bar hive.  For his funnel he used 4 pieces of cardboard taped together and attached it to a yogurt container with the bottom removed so it could fit inside the package box.  After the package was complete he removed the funnel and stapled a piece of cardboard to the top of the box to close it off.

Sam Comfort making a package of bees from a top bar hive.

Here is a closeup picture of the package and funnel.  That piece of cardboard on top of the package will be used to cover the hole when the funnel is removed.

A package of bees being made from a top bar hive.

Want to watch the package being made?  Check out this video below.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

  1. Microbes & Bees Plus How To Light A Smoker & Other Hive Inspection Tips
  2. Top Bar Hive Honey Harvest With Sam Comfort
  3. Top Bar Hive – A New Member In My Bee Family
  4. Treatment Free Beekeeping Conference Plus “What Bees Need”
  5. Michael Bush At The Treatment Free Beekeeper’s Conference

Author: Anita Deeley

Anita Deeley is a biologist who maintains 80 honey bee hives. She is the beekeeper, writer, owner and creator of BeverlyBees.com. When she is not spending time with her girls (the bees), she enjoys being a wife to her beekeeping cohort, Brian and mother to 3 little boys (the beekeepers in training). Read more about Anita here >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Anita on Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ or Facebook here.

6 Comments

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  1. Steven C
    August 30, 2012 at 10:18 pm

    It’s amazing to me that Sam could shake bees off a TBH bar without breaking the wax!

    • Anita at Beverly Bees
      August 31, 2012 at 7:44 am

      Once the wax ages and has brood cocoons in it, it is stronger than you would think. That being said, there is a finesse to holding the bars and shaking the bees off them. The bars need to held a certain way that differs from Lang frames, especially if the comb is heavy and full of honey!

  2. LetMBee
    August 31, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    I need to investigate and find out if there is anything similar around here. Looks like this was a great week of events!

  3. Ken Burks
    March 20, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    I am trying to find a source for small cell package bees within driving distance of Maine. Am willing to drive 3 or 4 hours one way to pick up. Anyone know where I can purchase these little beauties?