Painting Hive Equipment – Honey Bee Research Centre (2024)
By Paul Kelly
In many ways beehives aren’t much different than our own houses. Both provide entrances, ventilation, insulation and a weather- proof exterior. As with houses, paint is used to seal wooden hive parts and is the first defense against the elements. Finish applied to hive components will protect your bees and your investment. Beehives will last for generations if the finish coating is maintained. Unfinished wood will rot quickly.
The interior of a beehive is quite humid. This fact is important when we consider the type of paint to use. Oil based top coats should be avoided as they form a vapor barrier and are prone to peeling caused by trapped condensed moisture. We wouldn’t put a vapor barrier on the outside wall surface of our own homes for similar reasons. In my opinion, the most durable finish for beehives is a single coat of oil based exterior primer followed by two coats of latex exterior paint. These materials form porous, breathable, coatings so moisture is not trapped.
Paint or chemical wood preservatives shouldn’t be used on interior surfaces because they could contaminate hive products. Bees do a remarkable job of painting the hive’s interior walls with propolis. Let them do their own decorating.
A quick, cheap, way to paint hive equipment is to stack it up, stabilize the stack by putting something heavy on top, and apply paint with a long handled roller. Recessed hand -holds in supers can be painted with a brush prior to using the roller. Be sure to follow the paint manufactures recommendations regarding surface preparation and recoat times.
What the best colour? Avoid very dark colours so your hives don’t overheat in the sun. Bees orient better to hives with a variety of colours so go wild!
The best paint for your bee boxes and woodenware is low VOC water-based exterior latex paint. VOCs — the chemicals that evaporate, or off-gas, as the paint dries — can have negative effects on bees' health. Paint cans disclose VOCs on the label, measured in grams per liter: Under 100 is ideal, but under 50 is better.
Colors with a low LRV are hotter, while shades with a higher LRV are cooler. For example, black paint with a 0 LRV level can overheat the hives, so it's best to avoid it.
It's best to paint your equipment so that you can get more years out of your equipment without much effort. And it's easier without bees in it as well. But from the hive stand to the telescoping cover, we will explain it. Other ways to protect the finish include oil-based paint, stains, oils, and even wax dipping.
Painting a bee hive is simple if you remember this basic principle. Paint the outside and leave the inside where the bees live unpainted (the only exception is the bottom board).
Dark colors like red and black are perceived as aggressive predators so they will be more agitated and defensive towards you. Sticking to white or pale colors would be the best choice. Your smell could also be a factor in whether or not bees give you a visit.
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.
To paint bee hives, use a latex paint, it dries faster and is easier to clean off of you. Don't paint the inside of the hive, only the outside and the hive rims. Also don't paint frames, inner covers and queen excluders. You can paint the edge of screened inner covers.
Some beekeepers do this, but there is logic behind the odd collection of colours. Bees see colours well. They see a higher spectrum than we do, from yellow through to ultra-violet, though they interpret them quite differently – for example, it is said that bees see red as black.
Don't: Spray chemicals or pesticides into the hive. This won't kill the bees immediately, but it will aggravate them––probably not what you were going for. Professional bee removal services will look for ways to lure bees away instead of killing them.
“Raw honey is the least processed and has the most antioxidants,” Czerwony says. Though raw foods aren't always safe, raw honey is considered safe to eat (except for children under 1 year old). But it may look different from the honey you're used to seeing in grocery stores.
If you go with a less natural finish we recommend you leave the inside of the timber boxes unfinished to keep the internal wood natural for the bees. It is advisable to coat the inside of the window covers to stop these from expanding excessively in wet weather.
Protek Wood Stain and Protect and Royal Exterior are both suitable to paint wooden and polystyrene beehives, and there are plenty of colours to choose from.
The water-based acrylic paint is non-toxic and safe for use on the thorax of bees. The pens offer precise application with the larger tip, allowing beekeepers to mark Queen bees easily and accurately, without harming them at all.
Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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