Painting hives is a fairly effective option that protects bee houses from damage and destruction. At the same time, choosing paint for hives must take into account safety standards. Otherwise, it can greatly harm insects and even provoke their death. For bee dwellings, it is permissible to use oil, acrylic, and mineral paint.
Why do you need to paint hives?
Not all beekeepers paint hives.However, experts believe that this procedure really helps improve the condition of bee houses.
Painting allows you to achieve the following effects:
- Protect wood from the destructive effects of temperature fluctuations, high humidity, sunlight, precipitation and wind. Thanks to this, the wood does not rot, dry out or crack.
- Protect the tree from fungi, mold and bark beetles.
- Improve bees' orientation in the area. Thanks to this, insects do not wander around in search. In addition, it is possible to increase the productivity of honey collection.
- Protect hives from heat. The effectiveness of this event depends on the color.
- Make bee houses more aesthetically pleasing.
Pros and cons of painting hives
The main advantages of painting bee houses include the following:
- protection of the material from the negative influence of sunlight, precipitation, wind, temperature fluctuations;
- prevention of wood rotting;
- increasing the service life of hives;
- creating a good reference point for bees;
- the possibility of saving on replacing hives;
- keeping bees active even in hot weather.
At the same time, the dyeing technology also has some disadvantages. In the winter season, wood without a dense layer of dye allows air to pass through, since nothing closes its pores. Thanks to this, drops of moisture easily escape from the material.
Thus, in unpainted hives the microclimate is more favorable. In addition, applying the dye implies additional work on apiary arrangement. This leads to waste of money and time. In addition, the paint will have to be renewed periodically, as it will chip.
What paint is suitable
Not every type of dye can be used to paint bee dwellings. It must be stable, reliable and at the same time safe.In addition, it is important that the material dries quickly. It is strictly forbidden to use lead white and verdigris for hives. Insects can die from these substances.
Also, paint materials with a strong odor should not be used. It will take a long time to weather it. Bees will not be able to live in such an environment. It is strictly forbidden to use products containing polyvinyl chloride. When exposed to the sun, they will turn into poison for insects.
Oil paint
Although oil-based dyes are considered obsolete, they continue to be used. Once dry, such products are harmless. In addition, they are highly durable. The substances do not harm living organisms and do not emit odor. However, the coating will need to be updated frequently. It will not last longer than 5 years. In addition, the oil composition should not be very thick, as it will clog the pores of the wood.
Acrylic paint
This material is ideal for painting hives. It can be applied to different types of surfaces. The composition practically does not dry out and can last 15 years. Facade acrylic paints allow air to pass through well and do not prevent moisture evaporation.
These materials are water-based, so they are completely safe for insects. These products take 1 hour to dry. However, they are odorless. The main disadvantage is the need to thoroughly prepare the surface for painting.
Silver paint
This material is made from aluminum powder. It is great for painting the roof of a bee house because it helps create a shiny surface that reflects ultraviolet light. The material is resistant to moisture and prevents the hives from getting wet.However, it is not recommended to use it for walls.
Liquid glass
The introduction of liquid glass into the dye helps increase the strength of the paint and make it more resistant to adverse factors. This composition should be used to paint bee houses to protect them from ultraviolet radiation, wind and rain. You can also apply liquid glass in its pure form. It is recommended to do this in 3 layers with an interval of a quarter of an hour.
Paint with milk
You can stain evidence with sour milk combined with quicklime. To do this, pour the raw materials with milk and wait 3 hours. Then you need to add color and apply it to the hives in 2 layers. This composition will provide protection to bee houses for 6 years.
Mineral paints
To make a composition suitable for painting hives, it is recommended to take the following components:
- 1 part slaked lime;
- 1 part brick dust;
- 1.5 parts wood ash.
All components need to be mixed and diluted with milk until you get a mass that resembles the consistency of ordinary dye. After 5-6 hours of infusion, it is worth introducing the color into the composition and starting coloring. Mineral dyes provide protection for at least 10 years.
Other homemade paints
For wooden structures it is permissible to use the following recipes:
- Mix curdled skim milk with slaked lime in equal proportions. After this, add dye - it is best to use aniline.
- Mix drying oil with quartz sand. After this, add the color of the required shade.
Color selection
Hives can be painted in different shades:
- white – does not increase the temperature in bee houses and is easily distinguished by insects;
- green, yellow, blue - considered good colors for bees;
- silver – suitable only for the lid and back walls.
Rules and terms of coloring
Painting a wooden beehive is not difficult, but you need to take into account a number of rules:
- The structure can only be painted from the outside. From the inside, the bees themselves process their homes.
- All surfaces that are planned to be painted must be dry.
- It is best to paint only built houses.
Most often, the procedure is performed in the spring or early summer, when the air parameters are perfect for work.
Painting a hive is a useful procedure that allows you to increase the life of bee homes. It is important to choose the right dye and follow the rules for its use.
