There are two reasons to paint or otherwise preserve your hive.

1. Preserve your wooden ware; and
2. Make YOU happy.

What percentage you put on each is up to you.  It will not make your bees happy.  If you think it does, you are permitted to paint in a way that makes your bees happy as long as you understand you are doing so to make yourself happy.  Making your wooden ware last longer does make your bees happy, if you don't have to move them every three years.

You may choose any finish you wish,  as long as it doesn't stink, the bees won't care.  For me, I've put a lot of hard work into the hives and want them to last a long time.  For me an oil primer and a high quality latex paint are the longest lasting combination.  Of course I'm cheap.

I found a can of mis-mixed paint, the best, top of the line exterior latex, in pink for $5, with a $5 mail in rebate.  I think the bees will enjoy pink about as much as any other color.  Anything free is worth saving up for.  One thing I know about paint is that the good stuff goes on way easier and nicer than the cheap stuff.  I'd rather have good paint in any random color for a project like this than cheap paint in a color I picked out.

So first the primer:



This stuff was awesome.  Hint with oil based paints, use a brush you can afford to throw away.



Let it dry and then paint.



Normally $37.50, this paint was free after mail-in rebate.  It pays to check the mis-tint rack.  If you are cheap and want to pick your color, a quart will cover 3+ primed top bar hives.  Tip with latex paint, use the best paint and brush you can afford.