Repairing Broken Combs and Advanced Comb Management for TBH

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Every Top Bar Hive beekeeper is going to have to deal with broken comb at some point. It is inevitable that a comb will break or you will cut a cross-combed comb off your bars and want to set it right. This video shows you how you will do that. Using a womans hair clip, tie wraps, and a bit of knowledge you can repair even a collapsed hive.

[@kitcarson7572]

I do love top bar hives. The bees do well and thrive. I do not worry about cross comb or messed up comb, when checking a hive if required which is seldom as one can tell by the bees if something is wrong or if the hive is congested to the point it needs to be split. So a long knife is the tool of the trade. As each bar is slightly separated I just run the knife down between the bars and cut the comb if it is crossed. Who cares the bees will fix it. No matter what width bar you use they will sometimes do cross comb or some other nonsense. Hey it is nature. A strong healthy hive will fix the damage in two days. I never use smoke on them either. Just a veil and a long sleeve shirt just in case they do get upset. Even that is not needed unless you are taking honey just before the spring nectar flow. They will get upset when that is going on and you have the entire hive disturbed. Many things told and taught to me, I find to be pointless and false in the experience of bee keeping. They do best simply left alone unless there is need to bother them. Just watching the bees can teach you what they need and if the hive is doing well.

[@TomBrueggen]

I was going to make the note about not trying to save honeycomb, but you nailed it. Just a detail to that, most brood combs have honey at the top. Cut that off to make sure you only hang off brood comb. I know you know this, but hopefully others will see this comment. I learned the hair clip method from you, and it works well. Thanks.

[@Octopusmaster]

This is a great way. I have used this method. I find that if the comb is partially breaking that using twine to attach by threading it on the bar with one hand holding the bar and one hand stringing the twine through the hair clip holes. This works better than zip ties (which you will need 3 hands ; one to hold the bar, one to hold the zip tie end, and one to hold the zip tie closure end), and if it is a bigger comb you can string the twine around the very bottom of the comb several times, and cut it off later. I also use this method to do cut outs and attach. Thanks so much! Sewing larger comb in warm weather is a disaster. Been there done that lol

[@pazznecht]

Hey mate, we have finally made a TBH with a colleague. Will test is soon. Great videos. You are a good guy!

[@ccosta55]

Thanks for video; very informative. Question: when using the zip ties to hold the clips, don't they cause a gap between the top bars because the zip ties are so thick? Would using during or simmering thinner work better? Thanks. -- Carlos

[@lpriddy2929]

Great video! Thanks! Found this looking for reattaching comb. Switching some nucs I bought from langstroth to layens this will make reattaching the comb much easier as I will be working by myself!

[@apismellifera1000]

Hey McCartney I had a comb was an angle across a bar and I removed and reattached it with a hair clip and it worked like a charm but since I did not have any zip ties I used some thin wire and it held very well!! When I find a comb that is starting to go at an angle at the edge I cut it back slightly and bend it straight its amazing how easy it is to fix and straighten a comb.

[@mjp431982]

thank you for this. i'm a brand new tbh beekeeper and they crossed me up. I felt like i was destroying the hive when i tried to fix it. Fingers crossed i hope their ok. i hope i put the comb back in correctly.

[@MrVegetableGarden]

Nice educational video! My hives are not top bar but it was still interesting to watch.. Thanks for sharing. Tomas

[@DixieGirl9876]

Great info.Thanks so much for sharing.(switching over to THB this year.)

[@johnmoser3594]

I've only had cross-comb problems on langstroth bars that are too far apart. Apparently triangular bars don't have cross comb issues as often.

[@goodcitizen3780]

I got here from tzkelley. Really good video. Been doing something similar.

[@crapper1]

Did the comb break off that dropped bar lol at least I wasn't the only one who was dropping things doing videos

[@Alpha11Hotel]

You are a magnanimous genius! Get back out there and make some more vids!

[@PaulaDeeDillon]

What are the birds making a fuss in the background?

[@apismellifera1000]

Very informative and learned some as well you sure an inspiration to me

[@pepawlowski]

This was such a great video! learned a ton!

[@o0julek0o]

Hey, It'd be nice if you made like a series of videos on how to get started :) I'm 16 and really want to begin my adventure with apiculture :D

[@EverydayKindaGuy]

You keep doves too? Or you standing in a grove with a pile of wild ones?

[@stevenogborn5892]

I have a five gallon bucket of Goodys medium hair clips with eight inch zip ties already installed. They are handy. I have videos for proof. OgbornsApiaries.

[@jessekilgore]

Thank you!

[@Majorme2]

Have seen you on KZbin for a long time…

[@OutOfaBlueSky]

I'm starting back up again soon. Thanks!

[@OutOfaBlueSky]

They are everywhere this week. Doves all over my yard

[@354133]

Another non top bar beek here.. nice video as well. I dito the thoughts of MrVegetableGraden.

[@Majorme2]

Haven’t seen ya lately….

[@OutOfaBlueSky]

I'll start up again in a few weeks. Spring is coming..

[@Majorme2]

@@OutOfaBlueSky Since I discovered top bar hives from your KZbin 10 yrs ago you’ve been a remote mentor of sorts. I refer new beekeepers to your channel often. Thanks.

[@OutOfaBlueSky]

@@Majorme2 Dude, that is awesome! Thank you for your kind words.

[@freakygeaktwo]

great video I'm still a bee keeper wanabee

[@TeachaMantoFish]

Is there a video on a ”feeding area”? I’m just getting started. Check out my bee adventure playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLLWJD0SmG0jXNJtmNool9FbQvEPKo9t0V

[@ccosta55]

Sorry, that should have read "when using string or something thinner". Darn this "Swype" keyboard sometimes.

[@jmerrow02]

for a broken comb its easier and faster just use rubber bands

[@jewelciappio2878]

jerry m I think the bees chew them off. I know that works with langstroth, but I'd be interested if works with top bar.

[@jmerrow02]

Living With Jewel it works great go to Jerry's top bar hives I have a vid

[@goodcitizen3780]

Rubber bands will not work at all for comb which has detached from a bar. That only works with frames, and with frames it works well. I guess you could make a "frame" on your bar but that seems like more work than is necessary.