You sure you want to paint your bee hives? Try linseed oil instead.

Boiled linseed oil has been a top wood finish for a long time. When you go to refinish a hive, simply recoat it. No scraping, no moving hives about, very few worry's about the bees even. Spray your hives on their stands and just don't get any inside the hive. Stuff a rag in the entrance.