entrance and paint

[zzzzzzzzpr]

im getting ready to build a top bar hive so i can have bees for my garden. im a newbie to bees and had a couple of questions about building a hive.

ive seen the videos here on building a top bar hive. the guy drilled 1 inch holes for vent and the entrance. is that okay? i read some where you want a centimeter or less for an entrance. which one should i have?

2nd question is paint. can i paint everything inside and out including the top bars with latex paint?

[beeman2009]

No paint on inside AT ALL!  As to entrance, everyone has a different opinion, me I like the top end entrance which is setting the 1st bar back app 1/2" and raising the roof about the same. Of course that is if you are using a flat roof. Otherwise a couple 3/4" holes will do fine. As for ventilation, depends a lot on your location.

Other TBH beeks will soon chime in.

[AllenF]

Bees will polish everything inside the hive.   Your paint would be wasted as the bees would coat it with wax and propolis. 

[zzzzzzzzpr]

thank you for your input.

[Michael Bush]

I don't paint the inside.  I never drill holes in equipment, including top bar hives.  My entrance is the gap between the first bar and the front of the hive...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopbarhives.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/TBHEntrance1.JPG