If you are new to beekeeping it can be quite confusing on the type of hive to buy. There are many different types to choose from such as the traditional WBC which everyone recognises to the Kenyan top bar hive. The most widely used beehives here in Ireland are the National and the Commercial hive.
The number of worker cells in a fully framed National hive is 50,000 and the number in a Commercial hive is 70,500. The frame sizes are different and therefore are not interchangeable. Some beekeepers feel that the National brood box is too small but this can be increased to the approximate size of the commercial by adding a super called a brood and a half. This has certain advantages. Please remember that the `Commercial boxes are heavier to lift!
For the newcomer, the deciding factor is where you are going to get your colony of bees from. These are generally purchased from a beekeeper as a Nuc short for nucleus. These are supplied as a 5 or 6 frame Nuc. In either a wooden or polystyrene hive. As purchased the bees will almost fill this box so very soon they will need to be transferred into your new hive. If you buy a Nuc on National frames then you must transfer these into a National hive. If you buy a Commercial Nuc then you will need a Commercial hive.
To summarise your type of hive depends on the source of bees you are buying however if you are lucky enough to attract a swarm into a swarm hive then the type is immaterial as the bees will make their home in any type of hive.
Nucleus Beehive for both National and Commercial Hives.
Includes 5 Frame Brood Box, Crown Board and Roof.
5 Frame with solid wood floor.
Made from Native Irish Cedar to my own design.
Constructed with dovetails for a stronger product.
Will come fully assembled.
Available in 4 different colours -
Signal Violet
Signal Orange
Fern Green
Beige
Apishop Commercial Cedar Beehive
Made in Ireland - Unique Design!
Made from Native Irish Cedar to my own design giving a fully ventilated roof summer and winter.
Constructed with dovetails for a stronger product.
Corriboard varroa tray rebated on 3 sides so it can be used as a solid floor in winter. The corriboard will help insulation.
Varroa mesh floor rebated on all 4 sides. No sharp edges to damage bees legs.
Fully vented roof on all 4 sides with stainless steel insect mesh.
Ventilation channel around periphery of the roof.
Will come fully assembled. Includes floor, brood, 2 supers crown board and roof all in cedarwood.
Available in 4 different colours -
Signal Violet
Signal Orange
Fern Green
Beige
Paynes Polystyrene National Nucs complete with disc opening and floats for feeder.
Paynes National Poly Nuc Feeder - Miller Type
This is a top style feeder for the poly nuc. This allows greater capacity so less visits back to the colony for re fills. Just block the side feeder off in the poly nuc and place this on the top.
A clear cover over the centre channel so you can easily see the bees taking the syrup down without opening the hive up making the visits quick and easy. Both syrup chambers are sloping towards the centre so that every drop of feed can be taken down by the bees - No waste.
This can be used in conjunction with the brood box for poly nucs and the super for poly nucs, giving you a complete poly nuc hive system - enabling you to increase or decrease the nuc hive depending on colony and yearly requirements.
Paynes 6 Frame Nuc Eke serves the purpose of providing additional room on the upper bars to accommodate feeding or queen rearing.
Paynes Brood Box Extension
An extension for the poly nuc hive allowing a further 6 frames to be used. Now you can expand your colony in the poly nuc itself until you are ready to transfer across to a full size hive at your own pace. These can be stacked as high or as many as you want and can be used along with the supers for poly nuc and the top style feeder.
Now available in stock!
Made from Native Irish Cedar to my own design giving a fully ventilated roof summer and winter.
Constructed with dovetails for a stronger product.
Corriboard varroa tray rebated on 3 sides so it can be used as a solid floor in winter. The corriboard will help insulation.
Varroa mesh floor rebated on all 4 sides. No sharp edges to damage bees legs.
Fully vented roof on all 4 sides with stainless steel insect mesh.
Ventilation channel around periphery of the roof.
Will come fully assembled. Includes floor, brood, 2 supers crown board and roof all in cedarwood.
Available in 4 different colours -
Signal Violet
Signal Orange
Fern Green
Beige