The Ultimate Hive - Our Warre Inspired Cedar Octagonal Hive
The Ultimate Hive - Our Warre Inspired Cedar Octagonal Hive
Watch your bee colony thrive, and survive, in this awesome hive! Best hive for over-wintering bees; very high winter survival rate. It’s as easy to manage as the standard Warre hive, making it an excellent choice for the beginner or experienced beekeeper alike.
See more product details below.
Made from SFI certified sustainable red cedar.
There is no need to paint anything (painted hives trap moisture), but we encourage you to consider finishing the exterior with Tung oil, and you may want to paint the top of the roof planks, since they receive the most exposure to the elements.
This hive is offered exclusively as already assembled, and you can choose to have the hive bee-ready by having us prep and install the top bars for you. Otherwise, you’ll simply install the comb guides into the grooves of the top bars, coat them with wax, and then install the top bars into the hive bodies using the provided brads. Easy to follow written instructions can be found here.
Tip: You can make your hive more manageable by applying Tung oil to the top side of each top bar. Review the instructions to learn more.
This hive closely simulates a tree cavity; the most common natural environment for a bee colony. Nearly cylindrical design helps bees stay warm and dry. The hive body dimensions are the same as a Warre hive, but the “cold corners” are eliminated.
We believe that this is the very best hive available to over-winter bees.
Tops of handles are mitered at 10 degrees to promote water run-off.
Exterior surfaces of the hive bodies and roof are sanded smooth.
Fiberglass screen is provided to separate the quilt and top hive body to help minimize propolising of the natural canvas duck quilt bottom.
Comes with two hive bodies. Is easily expanded by adding more hive bodies.
Available accessories include a sticky board, hivetop feeder, bee escape board and more!
Replacement top bars are available.
Our new-design frames can also be used in this hive (two per hive body) by putting them in place of the two center-most top bars.
Comes with a screened floor assembly for help with varroa mite reduction and monitoring.
The 1cm x 6cm entrance (narrower than shown) helps the colony protect the hive against robbers and doesn't require a mouse-guard in winter.
Cedar sawdust quilt filler material is included.
Need help setting up your new hive? Watch the video!