Comparing Production in TBH

[ArmucheeBee]

For those of you who have had both Langstroth and TB hives for several years.  Do you see in differences on honey production going horizontal instead of vertical?

[Robo]

Yes,  all 4 of the TBH I had were less productive than the Langs in the same yards.  Seems like I had to continue feeding them every winter and after 2-3 years I gave up on them.  Your mileage may vary.

[ArmucheeBee]

That stinks.  What if you had entrances at more than one end, like along the sides, so the bees did not have to go from the front to the back to add honey/pollen?  I know some on the forum have high entrances on their Langstroth hives and claim more production.

[Robo]

I had multiple configurations,  from at the top near the top bars to at the bottom and on both sides of the nest.




And also on the bottom in the end

[David LaFerney]

Robo - what brand of bees did you use?  Do you have a theory as to why the hive would make them less productive?

[Robo]

Robo - what brand of bees did you use? 

My own feral stock

Do you have a theory as to why the hive would make them less productive?

Pure speculation,  but I believe it is easier for them to maintain a vertical nest and work up and down combs  than traversing across them.  I know the winter cluster moves vertical much easier than horizontally.   It just seems more practical for them to keep a vertical brood nest warm, since heat rises, than a horizontal one.

[David LaFerney]

...It just seems more practical for them to keep a vertical brood nest warm, since heat rises, than a horizontal one.

It makes sense I guess.  It's certainly closer to the shape of a hollow tree.