Do not paint the bottom board where the bees land. It is possible to paint your beehive with the bees still inside, but there are several considerations you should observe to make the process easier for yourself and less disturbing for the bees. Paint choice is also important for painting a hive with bees still inside.
Can you paint the top of a bee hive?
Beehive tops and bottom boards are the first pieces of beekeeping equipment to fail. This is because they are the main protectors (top and bottom) for the colony inside. Nothing inside the hive needs paint. Do not paint frames, inside walls of the boxes, inner cover or inside of the telescoping top.
How to design a beehive?
Designs on beehives are really varied. Some are simple, just a layer of plain color paint. If you want to create a more decorative and creative hive and know how to paint a bit, you can make a hive increasingly interesting by painting a variety of designs on it. If you have other friends who are beekeepers, brainstorm colors and designs together.
Do you wear goggles when painting a beehive?
The best way to ensure this is to wear goggles when painting the hive, as well as gloves. Wearing a mask while painting could be beneficial as well if the paint you are using emits a strong odor. Is beehive painting unnatural?
Should I paint my honey bee boxes?
A good protective coating of paint will protect your hives from extremes of weather and extend the life of hive boxes. Honey bees can see color, but they perceive it slightly differently from humans. Color is one of the ways that help pollinating insects identify nectar rich flowers.
Is it better to paint or stain a beehive?
Paint, stain, and wax all provide sufficient waterproofing of beehives. Paint, especially exterior grade paint, is great for waterproofing beehives by coating the wood. Stain works by soaking into the wood fibers and creating a bond. Therefore, additional moisture is not able to absorb into the wood.
What color should bee boxes be painted?
White and other light colors help reflect the heat from the sun, keeping the hives a little cooler for your bees. By contrast, in the north, darker colors help the hives absorb heat. We use lighter colors to help keep hives a bit cooler in summer.
Should I remove the bottom board of a beehive?
During summer, your bees are wizards at keeping the bottom board clean, and so they often remove evidence before you see it. But with a screened bottom, the bees are prevented from reaching the pieces that fall through. They have no choice but to leave them there for you.
What paint is safe for bee hives?
The best paint for beehives is a water-based latex paint, rated for exterior use with low levels of VOC's (volatile organic compounds). The VOC's should be under 100 but ideally you want 50 or lower. This will protect your beehive against the elements while ensuring the safety of your bees.
What colors do bees hate?
Why Do Bees Hate Dark Colors? Bees hate dark colors. They naturally associate them with predators. Lighter colors, like white or tan, are on the other hand associated with something unthreatening.
What color do bees see Best?
The most likely colors to attract bees, according to scientists, are purple, violet and blue. Bees also have the ability to see color much faster than humans. Their color vision is the fastest in the animal world-five times faster than humans.
Do bees need a bottom board?
Solid bottom boards are more similar to natural hive enclosures, if that is what you are looking to replicate as a natural beekeeper. In hot and humid climates, a solid bottom board will restrict ventilation and require bees to spend time and energy cooling down the hive.
Is a screened bottom board necessary?
Since the use of screened bottom boards in hives became commonplace, beekeepers have discovered that screened bottom boards can provide improved hive ventilation, helping to keep the hive cooler in the Summer, and aiding in the prevention of moisture building up in the hive during Winter.
Should I close screened bottom board in winter?
Because a screened bottom board is open, the hive may be colder than if there was a solid bottom board in place. That being said, many beekeepers continue to use a screened bottom board in winter.
Is paint toxic to bees?
Bees are sensitive to chemicals, so using the wrong paint can be harmful to their health. The key to finding safe paint for beehives is to choose one with a low VOC. Choose a paint with a VOC level under 50. The lower, the better.
Do beehives have to be painted white?
In hotter climates, painting hives white or another reflective color keeps the hives cooler during the warm summer months. In colder northern areas, a darker color can help absorb more of the sun's warmth during the winter.
Can I paint my beehive with bees in it?
You can paint a beehive while the bees are still inside. To paint the hive, you need bee-friendly paint. Start early in the morning, wear a bee suit and work quickly. Clean the hive by rubbing with your gloves.
Why are bee boxes painted different colors?
As modern beekeepers, we can see how the bees might be confused by being placed so close together, since honey bees are prone to “drifting,” or wandering into the neighbor's place. Beekeepers today often paint their hives different colors to try to distinguish one from another.
Why are beekeeper suits white?
As a result, it is thought that overtime bees have learnt to dislike dark coloured animals who approach their hives. Therefore by wearing white, a beekeeper can approach and open the hive without the bees becoming defensive and attacking, decreasing the chances of the beekeeper being attacked/stung.
What color should I paint my bee hive?
If you live in a region without hot Summers, you may consider a slightly darker shade. Beekeepers living in neighborhoods often use tan or green colors for beehive painting.
Why do beehive tops and bottom boards fail?
This is because they are the main protectors (top and bottom) for the colony inside. Nothing inside the hive needs paint. Do not paint frames, inside walls of the boxes, inner cover or inside of the telescoping top.
Why do beekeepers paint their hives?
The major reason beekeepers paint their hives is wood preservation. Unless you purchase cypress wooden-ware (or plastic hives), your bee boxes will be made of pine. I love the way pine wood smells but it does not hold up long term when exposed to the weather.
How long does it take for a bee hive to be painted?
Regardless of the method used, beekeeping equipment should be painted several weeks before installing bees. Time is required for it to air out and any paint fumes to dissipate.
What paint should I use for bee hives?
For beginner beekeepers, it is easies to use regular latex (water-based) paint for your hives. This type of paint is easy to find and work with.
Can you paint a bee hive before painting?
Hive Assembly Before Painting. The best paint job in the world won’t help your bees if the equipment assembly is shoddy. This is true whether you build your own hive or purchase one ready to paint. When you are assembling your own beehive parts, be sure to nail the wooden boxes together tightly.
Can I paint the bottom of my landing board?
Paint the landing board or entryway too. If you want to paint the underneath “bottom” area too, that’s okay. Be sure to paint seams, corners and exposed joints. Our goal is to coat the raw wood for protection from rain, snow etc.
Why paint hives?
Reasons for Painting Hives. Many of the chores surrounding beekeeping are done for the good of the bees themselves. After all, we want to provide the best possible shelter for our bees so they can lead healthy, productive lives. Painting hives, however, is more about making life easy for the beekeeper than the bees.
What do beekeepers use to get the best deal?
Some beekeepers use whatever is on sale or in the discounted “oops” section of their local home center to get the best deal. Others will pay premium prices for the best-rated brands in just the right custom shade to match their homes or existing hives.
Why do hives need darker colors?
In colder northern areas, a darker color can help absorb more of the sun’s warmth during the winter. Keeping your hives a little warmer makes a big difference on how much honey is needed to survive through spring.
What happens when you leave hives unprotected?
When left unprotected, most wood will quickly begin to break down under this stress. Joints will begin to crack, wet areas will rot and flat surfaces will warp.
Is it safe to use clear stains on bees?
Those labeled 50 or lower are probably even safer. Some bee keepers prefer to use clear coatings or stains to protect their hives without hiding the natural beauty of the wood grain. Again, the guiding rule is to use water-based coatings with low VOCs.
Is it safe to paint bee hives?
Painting hives is a good way to protect their wood surfaces from the elements. However, there are several important factors to consider — and dangers to avoid — when painting your bee’s home. Like almost every other aspect of beekeeping, a little research will bring up many strongly-held opinions on painting bee hives.
Does latex paint harm bees?
No matter what factor you decide is most important to you, be sure you are choosing paint that will not harm your bees. In general, look for water-based latex paints rated for exterior use with low levels of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. VOCs are chemicals that evaporate out of the paint as it dries and cures, a process called off-gassing. Levels of VOCs are measured in grams per liter and are typically marked on the label of the paint can or bucket.
Why paint the edges of a beehive?
A quick note about painting edges. Water running down the outside of a hive will go into the crack between hive boxes. Any water that sits there will stay wet longer and can encourage rot. This is generally why beekeepers paint these edges (Also if you like things to be neat I think it looks better).
Why are bee hives white?
The reason they are white is simply to help bees stay cooler in the summer, especially if hives are exposed to hot sunlight all day long. If you want white, that’s absolutely fine. Bees don’t seem to mind white. But it’s not compulsory.
What can degrade pinewood hives?
Fluctuations in temperature between winter and summer, plus sun, rain, or even snow, will degrade an untreated pinewood hive. A good protective coating of paint will protect your hives from extremes of weather and extend the life of hive boxes.
What is low VOC paint?
These kind of paints discharge less hazardous fumes and have a less strong smell. Most brands of low VOC paint have levels lower than 50 grams per litre. Your paint needs to be suitable for outdoors, which may make your choice slightly narrower.
Why do apiaries need color?
Thirdly, colors can be a great way to color code your hive parts and help identify different types of hive boxes more easily. If your apiary grows over time , color coding your deep, medium or shallow supers can come in handy.
What type of wood do you use for hives?
The most common type of wood for building hives is pine. If this is what yours is made of then you will need to give it a protective coating. Pine isn’t the most durable type of wood and if left untreated will deteriorate over time.
Is paint a toxin?
So today’s paints give off less dangerous fumes than they did previously, but keep in mind, no paint is 100% toxin-free. The best option is to look for paints labeled “low VOC” (volatile organic compounds) or “environmentally friendly”. Some of these low emission paints are labeled “ Greenguard ”.
Should I Paint My Beehives?
So when you first get your hives, you may wonder if you need to paint your equipment at all. It depends on a few things.
Choosing The Right Finish For Beekeeping Equipment
Protecting your bee equipment from the weather is, without a doubt, one of the best ways a beekeeper can take care of their supplies. There are a lot of options for painting bee supplies, and they aren’t all created equal. No finish is perfect for every beekeeper and depending on your goal for beekeeping; you’ll choose a different finish.
Choosing The Right Finish For Beekeeping Equipment
Latex (also called water-based) paint is the most common finish for beehives because it is the cheapest and most available paint type. Latex is also popular because it’s straightforward to clean up, and you can find a quality that fits your budget. Remember when buying paint that you typically get what you pay for.
Do I Paint The Telescoping Cover?
Yes, paint the telescoping cover. Paint the sides of the cover and the bottom edge because water will run down the sides and drip off the bottom edge. It is not necessary to paint the inside edges of the telescoping cover.
Do I Paint The Bottom Board?
Yes, paint the bottom board on the sides, top, and bottom edges. It is also necessary to paint the front landing board as well. While on the boxes, it isn't necessary to paint the top and bottom edges of the box; it is good to do this with the bottom board.
Do I Paint The Inner Cover?
No, do not paint the inner cover. It is not in the weather at all, and the bees are constantly walking on it.
Do I Paint The Bee Boxes?
Yes, paint the bee boxes. Pay special attention to the handholds and the joints. When we paint bee boxes, we stack the boxes on top of each other and paint the joints first. That way, the roller applies the most paint to the joints so they can be protected. The joints tend to wick water and are the first places to soften over time.
Why paint a bee hive black?
Black attracts heat, and for those beekeepers who live in warm climates, painting a hive black may endanger your bees because it can cause the hive to overheat and therefore harm the bees inside.
Why do beekeepers paint their hives?
There are three main reasons why beekeepers paint their hives: To protect them. For convenience. Beehives look better painted.
How to help bees avoid drifting?
Any of these options would help a beekeeper identify and differentiate these hives. Also, beehives painted in different colors will help out your bees to avoid drifting.
Why do you need a bee stand?
To be a successful beekeeper, deciding on a suitable beehive stand is necessary to ensure the health of your hive. Whether you are new to beekeeping or interested in upgrading your stand, researching...
Do bee hives look similar?
All beehives look relatively similar while they remain unpainted. However, if one paints a hive a certain color and the rest of their hives different color, it may aid in remembering which hive is which. On occasion, a beekeeper may want to pay special attention to a certain hive.
Is it better to paint a hive matte or glossy?
Glossy and matte both have their own unique benefits. Glossy is potentially easier to clean whereas matte may be more difficult, but glossy also makes the hive stand out more. Truthfully, the paint sheen is not particularly important. What is important, however, is that it is created particularly for exteriors.
Is it better to use a paint roller or a brush?
Whether you use a paint roller to apply the paint or paint with a brush is entirely up to you. However, it is easier to be more precise with where you paint if you are using a brush. A roller is larger, therefore, which is a better choice if you have a large area to paint. If you do decide to use a roller, be sure that you do not accidentally paint the interior of the hive and are very mindful of where you apply the paint too.
Why Paint?
We have a tradition of painting our supers and since we’ve never had any issues with paint, we continue to do so.
Painting Tips
When you paint, it’s important to know that nothing that comes into contact with the inside of the beehive requires paint. Bees will wax it over in no time and it’s not going to be an issue. You also don’t want to expose the inside of a hive to paint; it’s not necessary. That means the inside of an outercover doesn’t require paint.
