How to make a cheap bee hive from a barrel (Honey Cow)

People keep bees in many different kinds of hives, but we will focus on a cheap and simple design, called the Honey Cow.

MATERIALS:
55 gallon plastic barrel, preferably food grade (makes two hives)
22 feet of 1”x2” nominal lumber
46 feet of 1½”x1” lumber
2 X 8 foot of 2”x4” nominal lumber
A 3 feet by 4 feet piece of tin
20 - 1½” wood screws
10 - 2” wood screws
8 - ½ “ screws
Bungee Cord or tie wire
45 feet thin moulding OR natural fiber string and beeswax

TOOLS
circular or jig saw
drill
tin snips
tape measure and marker

The Barrel
Cut the barrel in half lengthwise, making sure that there is a bung hole in each half.

Clean it well. Choose a food-grade container to avoid potentially dangerous chemicals.

Lay the barrel down like a canoe, so that it would catch water. This is the position it will be in from now on.

On one end of the barrel (which used to be the top when it was whole) there is a rim of plastic that protrudes. Cut this away.

Rub the interior with beeswax. This will remove any foreign smell that remains and make it more attractive to a hive. A drop or two of lemongrass oil is good as well.

The Frame

Measure the length and width of your barrel and cut the 1”x2” lumber to make a frame. For example, if your barrel is 36” by 24”, cut 2 lengths of 25” and 2 lengths of 37” (the extra inch allows you to screw one piece into the next).

Glue and screw the frame together.

Screw the barrel inside the frame.

Cut the 2"X4" boards into 40" pieces.* These boards are now the legs.

Screw the legs into each side of the barrel. Make sure you screw the frame to the leg and put several screws from the barrel into the leg for a good, sturdy fix.

The Top Bars

Cut 23 X 24” lengths out of the 1 ½”x1” lumber.

These are the bars to which the bees will attach their honeycomb. However, you need to provide a guide so that they make straight combs.

Screw a thin piece of moulding, 20” in length, centered on each top bar, with at least an inch on the ends of the top bar. This moulding will face down, into the barrel, when the bar sits on the frame. Rub some bee's wax on the molding.

The Roof

Using the 1”x2” lumber, make a frame that fits around the barrel frame, with a ¼” gap on all sides.

If you cut 2 lengths of 25” and 2 lengths of 37” for the barrel frame, cut 2 lengths of 27 ½” and 2 lengths of 39 ½” for the roof frame.

Take the piece of tin and screw it to the frame, leaving equal space on all sides. *

Bend the extra bits of tin down and screw to the sides of the frame.

Using the tin snips, cut any extra bits hanging below the frame.

Put the roof on top of the barrel frame.

Tie the roof down to the hive to prevent it from blowing off.

Ready for the Bees

You are now ready for the bees. You can buy a “package”, a queen and bees, however the most satisfying way to get into bee keeping is to capture a swarm.

More information: Vela Creations - Beekeeping
More photos: Top bar Beehive - a set on Flickr

 

I've known my dad to capture swarms from his hives, though I've never done it myself.

Whenever a new queen would come up in the hive, one of the queens, along with a large number of drones, would leave the hive. The queen would land on a fairly nearby branch of a tree, and most of her drones would gather around her, creating a ball of bees, about the size of a grapefruit.

The queen, and her attendants, would stay on the branch a day or two, until scouts reported back that they had found a suitable location for a new home.

When my dad would see (or usually hear first) a swarm on a tree branch, he'd wait until dark, and then hold a box under the branch, and strike the branch with a stick. The ball of bees would mostly fall into the box, and as long as you got the queen, the others would stay with her.

Then, he'd open the top on a new hive, and dump them in. The size of the opening in the front of the hive would prevent the larger queen from getting out, so they'd all just start setting up house.

He created several hives that way over the years.

The above idea for a hive is certainly novel, but I don't understand how you get the honey out. I'm a visual sort of guy, and the description just isn't getting it done for me.

 

There are some YouTube videos on this subject and there's a link I posted in the past to a site that has videos (which I can't find at the moment). The guy was young, very nerdy, and wore a Tilley hat. He used one of those big plastic storage bins or maybe a trash can to collect the swarm. If I find it, I will post (I need to start using Evernote more diligently)

backyardhive.com - Catching Bees - By Will Dart

Natural Beekeeping Forum - Top Bar Beekeeping Forum

How to Catch a Swarm | Bee Thinking


Backwards Beekeepers TV: Swarm Capture For Beginners - YouTube!

 

Modern hives and supers are not that expensive, last a lifetime, and are easy to harvest from. In the summer I like to place a sheet of tin to shade the hives. Seems to help--I know I like the shade on hot days.

 

The Chuck Norris method of capturing a swarm. Starts at around 1:16.

Huge Honey Bee Swarm On Vehicle - YouTube

 

Creating a low-cost bee hive from a barrel is a great eco-friendly project for beekeepers. Here are some steps:
1. Choose a clean, food-grade barrel.
2. Cut openings for the entrance and ventilation.
3. Add internal frames for comb building.
4. Insulate and weatherproof for bee comfort.
5. Provide for feeding and ventilation.
6. Paint or seal the outside for protection.
7. Place it in a sunny, sheltered spot.
8. Regularly maintain and protect yourself with proper gear.
I purchase my behive from there: Product
Remember, prioritize the bees' well-being and educate yourself about beekeeping. Good luck!

 

Nice necro post...got me wondering about ghrit. I miss the site's old and bold who've passed off this mortal coil.