Howdy all,
What sort of coating have other put on their hives? I’d be interested to find out if you’ve had good/bad reactions from the bees…
Cheers
Nick
Hi Nick, I have a cedar hive that someone gave me about 7 years ago. I think it had been oiled. Now it’s starting to rot in places. I did paint it after receiving it.
What I normally do with bee boxes, lids & bottom boards is treat with copper naphthenate, then allow it to thoroughly dry before applying 3 coats of good quality house paint, inside & out. I get no reactions from the bees. None of those boxes are rotting, after many years.
Would I just coat the whole thing in that copper naphthenate, obviously it’s coming in bits to be assembled so that would be fairly easy 
And then I thought of like not varnish… I don’t know something safe for the bees to bring out the wood. Then I was going to buy a vinyl picture or wrap to go around the outside
I’d like each of my hives to be different… also… thank you muchly Jeff 
Cheers
Nick