I finished up my new top bar hive with help from several sources on the web and forum advice. It came to 24 bars with one being a follower board and one dumby bar to cover a wider gap so 22 actually bars for the bees. I cut all the bars instead of gluing, etc. They are all a hair wider than 1 3/8. I also had my own idea to make them overhang 1/2 inch on each end for easier lifting. But I cut the triangles on a slope that puts them right against the sides so there is no lateral movement. The handles also will act as bar hangers. I plan to put a light poly on the top of the bars like the body of the hive. No poly inside. As for the inside, 2/3 of the bottom is screen with the last third being a wood bottom where I plan to sit a chick feeder. Sides are sloped at 120 degrees though that may or not matter. Three questions:
1. How many bars should I give the bees when I first put them in?
2. Can the follower board have holes in it so they can get to the feed? I don't want to use a jar type.
3. Most important. Where should I put my entrance? I like holes because I can use a cork to plug them, so I thought about on the end at the top or on the sides at the top--remember it has a SBB. Advice please!!