Paint for beehives: 7 varieties and which one is better to choose, suitable colors

Painting hives is a fairly effective option that protects bee houses from damage and destruction. At the same time, it is required to choose paint for beehives taking 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, mineral paint.

Why paint beehives

Beehives are not painted by all beekeepers. However, experts believe that this procedure really helps to improve the condition of bee houses.

Painting allows you to achieve the following effects:

1. 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.
2. Protect wood from fungus, mold and bark beetles.
3. Improve the orientation of the bees on the ground. Thanks to this, insects do not wander in search. In addition, it is possible to increase the productivity of honey collection.
4. Protect the hives from the heat. The effectiveness of this event depends on the color.
5. Make bee houses more aesthetic.

Pros and cons of dyeing beehives

The main advantages of painting bee houses include the following:

• protection of the material from the negative effects of sunlight, precipitation, wind, temperature fluctuations;
• prevention of wood decay;
• increase the life of the hives;
• create a good guide for the bees;
• opportunity to save on hive replacement;
• keep bees active even in hot weather.

At the same time, the staining technology has some disadvantages. In winter, wood without a dense layer of dye lets air through, since nothing closes its pores. This makes it easy for moisture droplets to escape from the material.

Thus, in unpainted hives, the microclimate is more favorable. In addition, the application of the dye implies additional work on the arrangement of the apiary. This results in a waste of time and money. In addition, the paint will have to be updated periodically, as it will chip off.

Which paint is suitable

Not every type of dye can be used to color bee dwellings. It must be stable, reliable and at the same time safe. In addition, it is important that the material dries quickly. For beehives it is strictly forbidden to use white lead and verdigris. These substances can kill insects.

Also do not use paints and varnishes with a pronounced smell. Its weathering will take a long time. 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 insect poison.

Oil paint

Although considered obsolete, oil-based dyes continue to be used. After drying, such products are harmless. In addition, they are highly durable. Substances do not harm living organisms and do not exude odor. In this case, 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 the best suited for coloring beehives. It can be applied to different types of surfaces. The composition practically does not dry out and can serve 15 years. Facade acrylic paints are breathable and do not prevent moisture from evaporating.

These materials are made on a water basis, so they are completely safe for insects. It takes 1 hour to dry. However, they are odorless. The main disadvantage is the need for careful preparation of the surface for painting.

Silver paint

This material is made from aluminum powder. It is great for painting the roof of a bee house, as it helps to get 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 dye into the composition helps to increase the strength of the paint and make it more resistant to adverse factors. With this composition, it is worth painting 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 color evidence with sour milk combined with quicklime. For this, raw materials need to be poured with milk and wait 3 hours. Then you need to add color and apply on the hives in 2 layers. This composition will provide protection to bee houses for 6 years.

Mineral Paints

To make a composition suitable for coloring hives, it is recommended to take the following components:

• 1 part slaked lime;
• 1 piece brick dust;
• 1.5 parts wood ash.

All components must be mixed and diluted with milk until you get a mass that resembles ordinary dye in consistency. After 5-6 hours of infusion, it is worth introducing color into the composition and proceeding to staining. Mineral dyes provide protection for at least 10 years.

Other homemade paints

For wooden structures it is permissible to use the following recipes:

1. Mix equal proportions of curdled skimmed milk with slaked lime. After that, add a dye - it is best to use aniline.
2. Mix drying oil with quartz sand. After that, add a color scheme of the desired shade.

Color matching

Hives can be painted in different shades:

• white - does not increase the temperature in bee houses and is well distinguished by insects;
• green, yellow, blue are considered good colors for bees;
• silver - suitable for lid and backs only.

Rules and terms of staining

Painting a beehive out of wood is easy, but there are a few rules to keep in mind:

1. You can paint the structure only from the outside. From the inside, the bees process their own housing.
2. All surfaces to be painted must be dry.
3. 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.

Coloring the hive is a useful procedure that allows you to increase the life of bee dwellings. It is important to choose the right dye and follow the rules for its use.

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