I just recently made one of the plastic barrel hives before I saw your aricle.

1) I cut the bottom out and put in a mesh floor in two parts to retain the strength.
2) I recessed 6 of the top bars and it took ten minutes to turn 6 bars from a commercial Nuc
into Top Bars and install a colony
3) I developed a profile of top bar that is quick to make and can be primed with wax in a matter of seconds
4) After 3 weeks the girls are already building on the real (oak) top bars.

I dont know how to post pictures .. send me your e-mail address and I will e-mail them to you.

Regards

Norm

Unfortunately 5 gallon pails are too small. If you ask around, you can probably find a plastic drum for free or cheap. If not, I would suggest building a Kenya top bar hive out of rough cut or scrap wood. With a little scrounging, you can build one for no cost. Michael Bush has a very good, simple plan on his site -> http://bushfarms.com/beestopbarhives.htm By the way, you don’t need to use 1×12, if you can’t get them. You can use 3 1×4, 2 1×6, or whatever you can come up with that adds up close to 12″. There is nothing magical about the dimensions so if you have to modify them a bit for the materials you acquire, it will not be a problem. As far as winter bees in WI, it is probably not that much different than here in the Northeast, but it is always best to get advice from someone a little more local. I would suggest checking out the Beemaster Bee Forums. It is geared towards helping beginner and hobbyist beekeepers and there are a lot helpful members. I’m sure there some from WI. Check it out -> http://forum.beemaster.com

Have you had problems with absconding?

Absconding does not seem to be an issue here in the North as it is in the South. I can’t remember ever having a hive abscond. If I have, it was decades ago.

I have heard the bees will not like the plastic.

That is usually from someone who is speculating or has had trouble with bees drawing plastic foundation. I have never had an issue and 95% of my Langstroths are in polystyrene hives. The barrel hive was perhaps the strongest of the TBH I had.

I’m not sure how bright it would be inside, but I would also be worried about the heat. You could always paint it though or put it in the shade so it doesn’t get direct sun light. I don’t know your location, but absconding seems to be more of a problem in the South than up here in the North East. Don’t forget, some colonies build right out in the open on a tree branch if they can’t find a better spot. Keep us informed of what you do and how it goes.

rob…

Single 1? entrance hole enough?
It is probably sufficient, but not ideal. There will probably be some heavy congestion on nice days. More would probably be better, but I know stainless isn’t the easiest to cut either.