Types Of Bee Hives

One can use old tree trunks, banana fibres or papyrus to create basket hives.

• In apiary, a hive made using tree logs is called a log hive. All you need to do is cut the log to a length of about four feet and scoop out the inside to make it hollow inside. Both sides of the log are sealed to leave small openings through which the bees access them.

When it comes to harvest time, the log is simply split open and the honeycombs removed. If you want to reuse the logs, combine two hollow logs when setting up.  All you need to do is separate the logs when harvesting the honey, remove the honeycombs and stitch them together again, in preparation for the next harvest.

• You can also use banana fibre to make cheap hives. This is when flexible sticks are woven together in a conical shape. The outside is then smeared with wet soil and mixed with animal dung. Both ends of the cone are then sealed with leads made out of banana fibre and grass.
• Other bee hives that can be made using readily available materials include the grass hive and the gourd hive. Although these improvised hives do not harvest as much as the top bars, they can sufficiently meet a family’s honey needs and even save some for sale.