Beecentric Hive Component Diagram
Whether you’ve ordered a Beecentric Hive through the mail or your just curious about how it all goes together, we’re a brief overview of the Beecentric Hive components and how to assemble them.
The Beecentric Hive has four general components: the Vented Roof, the Screened Quilt Box, Bottom Board, and Boxes.
Top Assembly: Warre Hive Roof and Quilt Box
Vented Warre Roof
The Vented Roof is designed to shed the elements while allowing moisture to escape the Quilt Box. The roof is based on Warre’s original design and is slightly larger so that it can fit snugly over the vented quilt box. Bees do not occupy the space between the quilt and the roof.
Screened Quilt Box
The Quilt Box and Bottom Board are inverted versions of each other. The Quilt Box is deeper to accommodate insulation and sits on top of the hive, with the screened side facing down. The screened Bottom Board sits on the bottom of the hive with the screen facing up.
The Quilt Box is designed to insulate the roof and prevent heat from leaving through the top of the hive while also preventing condensation. When filled with insulation such as wood shavings, excess moisture is wicked from the hive and allowed to dissipate through the vented roof.
Honey and Brood Boxes
8 Frame Medium Boxes
Unlike a conventional Langstorth Hive, The Beecentric Hive uses medium boxes (and frames) for brood and honey. Using one size of box simplifies the management, reduces the need for a queen excluder and provides the flexibility to add boxes to the top (supering) or bottom (nadiring) when managing.
Because honey and brood are on medium farms, before harvesting, I remove any empty frames and condense all the brood and as much honey as I can into the lower box(es). Being able to move frames of honey into the overwintering boxes means that I do not need to rely as heavily on feeding. Excess honey is removed for harvest.
Deep Frame Adapter
A deep frame adapter is a shallow 2 7/8″ box that converts a medium into a deep. Adapters are useful for accepting deep frames from a nucleus colony or for anyone who wants to keep their brood in a deep box.
The deep frame adapter can be used to increase the depth of the quilt box for added winter insulation or used as a have-stand.
Bottom Assembly
The bottom of the BeeCentric Hive consists of a slatted rack, screened bottom board, entrance reducer, and coroplast insert.
Slatted Rack
The Slatted Rack provides an air gap between the hive entrance and the central space (boxes) where the bees tend their brood. This gap acts as a buffer between the temperamental outside world and the carefully maintained internal conditions of the beehive. Slatted racks:
- Helps bee maintain their desired internal temperature and humidity within the hive.
- Encouraged brood production all the way to the bottom of the lower frames.
- Prevents driving wind and rain from entering the hive.
- Offers an internal space for bees to beard on hot days.
- Prevents the entrance from being blocks by dead bees during the winter.
- Encourages winter cleansing flights.
Screened Bottom-Board
The screened bottom is similar in appearance to an inverted quilt box. The bottom board features a 1/8″ galvanized screen and bottom insert for performing mite checks and an integrated landing board. An entrance reducer is provided in order to reduce the opening to a naturally sized opening.
Stacking Beecentric Hive Components
When stacked on top of each other, the Beecentric Hive should resemble the following diagram. From the ground up; Bottom Board with large reducer, Boxes, Quilt Box with small reducer, Vented Roof.
