14 best modern bee hives

Modern beehives refer to the innovative and efficient designs used in contemporary beekeeping practices. These hives are designed to enhance the health and productivity of bee colonies while making it easier for beekeepers to manage and maintain their hives. Here are some key features and information about modern beehives:

  1. Langstroth Hive: The Langstroth hive is one of the most widely used modern beehives. It consists of stacked boxes with removable frames, allowing beekeepers to inspect and harvest honey without disturbing the entire hive. This design minimizes stress on the bees and makes hive management more straightforward.

  2. Flow Hive: The Flow Hive is a relatively recent innovation in beekeeping. It features a unique honey harvesting system that eliminates the need for traditional honey extraction. Beekeepers can simply turn a lever to collect honey from the hive's frames, reducing the labor and equipment required for honey harvesting.

  3. Top-Bar Hive: Top-bar hives are another modern beehive design. They have horizontal bars on top of the hive, and bees build their combs downward from these bars. Top-bar hives are known for their simplicity and suitability for natural beekeeping methods.

  4. Warre Hive: The Warre hive is designed with simplicity and minimal intervention in mind. It uses stacked boxes with top-bars, and beekeepers add new boxes to the bottom of the hive as the colony expands. This design is often favored by those who practice more hands-off, natural beekeeping.

  5. Ventilation and Insulation: Modern beehives often include features for better ventilation and insulation. Proper airflow and temperature regulation are crucial for bee colony health, especially in extreme weather conditions.

  6. Integrated Pest Management: Many modern beehive designs incorporate features to help beekeepers manage common bee pests and diseases. This includes options for inserting pest traps or screens.

  7. Material Choices: Modern beehives are typically constructed from durable materials like wood or plastic. The choice of materials can affect the hive's durability and insulation properties.

  8. Varroa Mite Management: Varroa mites are a significant threat to bee colonies. Modern hive designs may include features or adaptations to help beekeepers monitor and control varroa mite infestations.

  9. Hive Accessories: In addition to the hive itself, beekeepers often use various accessories like bee suits, smokers, hive tools, and feeders to manage their colonies effectively.

  10. Environmental Considerations: Many beekeepers today are conscious of the environmental impact of their practices. Some modern hive designs are eco-friendly, using sustainable materials and promoting bee health.

Modern beehives aim to balance the needs of bee colonies with the convenience and efficiency of beekeeping practices. These hives come in various designs to cater to the preferences and goals of beekeepers, whether they prioritize high honey production, minimal intervention, or sustainability.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best modern bee hives on the market
  

MY SWANKY HOME Luxe Metallic Gold Bee Hive Table Lamp | Modern Wasp Nest Organic Shape Crystal

Product description

This Very Unique Lamp Base Consists Of A Delicate, Resin-treated Casting Of A Barn Wasp's Nest Finished In A Heavily Antiqued Metallic Gold, Set On A Solid Crystal Base, Accented With Brushed Brass Plated Details. The Round Hardback Drum Shade Is An Oatmeal Linen Fabric With Natural Slubbing.

  • 10" dia x 34"H. Weighs 6.5 lbs.
  • Handcrafted Steel, Resin, and Crystal with Fabric Shade
  • UL Listed. Uses one max 150W Type A bulb (not included). Three Way Switch
  • Heirloom Quality - Expertly hand crafted and hand finished. Due to the hand crafted nature of this piece, each piece may have subtle differences.
  • This Very Unique Lamp Base Consists Of A Delicate, Resin-treated Casting Of A Barn Wasp's Nest Finished In A Heavily Antiqued Metallic Gold, Set On A Solid Crystal Base, Accented With Brushed Brass Plated Details. The Round Hardback Drum Shade Is An Oatmeal Linen Fabric With Natural Slubbing.

Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee, A Bee Keeper's Manual: The Original 1853 Edition

Based on 15 reviews Check latest price

3dRose LLC 8 x 8 x 0.25 Inches Mouse Pad, Gray Honeycomb Hexagon Pattern Contemporary Grey Honey Comb Modern Bee Hive Geometric Hexagons (mp_120223_1)

3dRose

Product description

Gray honeycomb hexagon pattern - contemporary grey honey comb - modern bee hive geometric hexagons Mouse Pad is 8" x 8" x .25" and is made of heavy-duty recycled rubber. Matte finish image will not fade or peel. Machine washable using a mild detergent and air dry.

  • Dimensions (in inches): 8 W x 8 H x 0.25 D
  • Matte finish
  • Soft to touch, will not crack or peel
  • Clean with mild detergent
  • Made of heavy-duty recycled rubber

The Lives of Bees: The Untold Story of the Honey Bee in the Wild

Princeton University Press

Based on 189 reviews Check latest price

Langstroth's Hive and the Honey-Bee: The Classic Beekeeper's Manual

Dover Publications

Based on 84 reviews Check latest price

Keeping Bees with a Smile: Principles and Practice of Natural Beekeeping (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)

New Society Publishers

Based on 149 reviews Check latest price

Hoover Hives 10 Frame Langstroth Beehive Dipped in 100% Beeswax Includes Wooden Frames & Waxed Foundations (2 Deep Boxes, 1 Medium Box)

Based on 494 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Hoover Hives are known for their beautiful and skillfully crafted beehives. Every exterior hive part that may encounter rain or snow has been built with Fir wood and has been coated in 100% natural beeswax to help weather the elements. We’ve thoughtfully chosen to use Fir wood over the traditional Pine because Fir has a tighter knit grain-flow within the wood than Pine does. This makes our exterior parts far more durable and less likely to shrink, expand, warp, or twist from the rain than Pine would. Once we’ve cut the wood, we dip each part into a pool of natural beeswax. We allow the beeswax to be soaked into the hive parts. This not only protects the wood, but is also what gives our hives their natural golden honey lustrous allure. The delicate details of our durable dovetails were designed to hold together for years to come and create a joint that will stay perfectly square. After months of testing, we decided to have our frames come from the forests of New Zealand Pine. We’ve chosen this wood because it handles the meticulous cuts that are necessary for the grooves in our frames better than Fir handled it. This hive kit comes with two different types of CellTech foundations that have both been dipped in 100% beeswax to encourage your bees to quickly accept their new home and make an even layer of comb. The first type of foundation is a black food grade foundation made for the deep brood frames. The second type is a natural honey colored foundation made for the medium super frames. This kit also includes a Telescoping Top Cover that has been capped with galvanized steel to resist rust. The solid bottom board will reroute the wind chill and help keep your bees well insulated during cooler months. The Inner Cover has been and has an multipurpose oval opening cut out of the middle. Hoover Hives 10 frame hive parts use dimensions that are consistent with the industry standard and are interchangeable with all other Langstroth 10 frame beehives.

  • 2 Heavy Wax Coated Deep Brood Boxes (16-1/4″ x 19-7/8″ x 9-5/8″) with High Quality Dovetail Pine Frames
  • Heavy Wax Coated Medium Super Boxes (16-1/4″ x 19-7/8″ x 6-5/8″) with High Quality Dovetail Pine Frames
  • 30 Food Grade Plastic Foundations, Coated with Real Bee's Wax
  • Wax Coated Solid Bottom Board and Telescoping Top Cover (Metal Capped)
  • Includes Inner Cover, Plastic Queen Excluder (essential for Honey Production), Entrance Reducer, & Nails for Assembly

User questions & answers

Question: Which stand are you using with this hive? Thx
Answer: I used a solid top wooded pallet with 4 large steel washer to raise hive in four corners to prevent wood on wood contact.
Question: Can I add more supers to this down the road
Answer: Yes we will have individual super boxes available later this spring.
Question: What pieces does this hive come with
Answer: (1) - Inner Cover (1) - Wax Coated Bottom Board (1) - Wax Coated Outer Cover (4) - Wax Coated Brood Side (2) - Wax Coated Super Side (4) - Wax Coated Brood Front (2) - Wax Coated Super Front (1) - Queen Excluder (20) - Brood Wax Coated Foundations (10) - Super Wax Coated Foundations (40) - Brood Frame Side (20) - Super Frame Side (30) - Top Frame (30) - Bottom Frame
Question: Being that the wood is "waxed" does it need to be painted as well? If not does it require periodic waxing
Answer: Wax is a natural way to protect the wood hive with out using paint. You can wax the hive periodically, but is not required.

Hidato Beehive 5: 203 New Logic Puzzles

Based on 3 reviews Check latest price

Hidato Beehive 4: 203 New Logic Puzzles (Volume 4)

Based on 3 reviews Check latest price

NuBee Starter 10 Frame Beehive Kit - Includes 2 Hive Bodies, 1 Super Box, Pine Frames, Wax Coated Foundations and More

Based on 12 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Just getting started in beekeeping? Langstroth beehives are a favorite first hive among beekeepers because of their high quality and affordable price. This Standard 10 Frame set up comes with 2 Deep Hive Bodies and 1 Medium Super Box to help in cultivating a happy and healthy bee colony. The beehive boxes and frames are constructed of fir and have dovetail joints for greater durability. This complete kit also comes with 20 Frames for your Deep Bee Box, 10 Frames for your Medium Bee Box, 30 CellTech Foundations that have already been coated in 100% beeswax (an important step!), an Inner Cover, Bottom Board, Entrance Reducer, Queen Excluder, and a metal capped Telescoping Top Cover. Assembly of boxes and frames are required.

  • Includes 20 High Quality Dovetail Pine Brood Frames (9-9/16" x 19")
  • Includes 10 High Quality Dovetail Pine Super Frames (6-5/8" x 19")
  • 30 Pine Frames and Food Grade Plastic Foundations Coated with Real Beeswax
  • Includes Metal Capped Telescoping Top Cover & Inner Cover, also Solid Wood Bottom Board (platform)
  • Includes Plastic Queen Excluder, essential for Honey Production

The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt

Broadway Books

Based on 378 reviews Check latest price

The Thinking Beekeeper: A Guide to Natural Beekeeping in Top Bar Hives

New Society Publishers

Based on 136 reviews Check latest price

The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore (Dover Books on Anthropology and Folklore)

Dover Publications

Based on 79 reviews Check latest price

Apimaye Insulated 7 Frame Langstroth Nucleus Bee Hive Nuc Queen Castle

Based on 62 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Our insulated 7 frame bee hives are perfect for the hobby beekeepers, young and elderly beekeepers. You can add matching insulated supers for honey production. Our nucs are easier to lift and inspect the brood chamber, lighter than full size 10 frame supers, and bees overwinter better in the 7 frame hives. They feature the same latches for the supers and top cover for easy transportation. All our beehives have plenty of ventilation holes to prevent moisture build up inside the hive. You can use your own standard frames or included Apimaye handy frames in these hives. All the hive boxes and the hive covers are insulated to keep the colonies warmer in the cold climates. This beehive can be divided with the included division board to house 2 separate colonies and used as mating nucs. They have 2 separate color coded entrances, 2 separate top feeders. You can feed the colonies with sugar syrup and candies at the same time. You can keep 2 extra queens in one nuc for the emergency queen losses or rear your own queens. It is the best insulated ventilated hive and nuc available.

  • Best rated beehives on Amazon and 1st place winner in Beehive Innovations Award in Apimondia International Apicultural Congress now in nuc size
  • Easiest bee hive to work with for both beginners and professional beekeepers. Assembled and doesn't need to be painted. Easy to open and inspect, move or feed the bees, and fighting Varroa mites and small hive beetles
  • Insulated to withstand extreme weather, and designed to prevent moisture buildup inside the beehive. Bees can survive colder winters consuming less honey, and spring build up is much faster.
  • Standard features include screened bottom board perfect for fighting Varroa mite and small hive beetle, split hive entrance with entrance reducers, division/uniting board, and 2 top feeders for left and right side of a split hive
  • Comes with 7 plastic handy frames that can be used with wax foundation only. You can have a single 7 frame hive or two 3 frame hives with the division board in the center. Perfect for queen rearing and splitting hives for bee sales

User questions & answers

Question: Does this model include foundation for the handy frames
Answer: Dual propane bottle application only Thank you
Question: I find plastic becomes brittle over time outside and I don't want to consume new plastic. How well does this plastic hold up to uv and weathering
Answer: It doesn't work
Question: Has anyone in the northern states or canada used this box during winter? how well did it keep the bees warm
Answer: It seems as weather proof as I need in the upper midwest. I do no know what your definition of weatherproof is, but I have had no trouble with it during winter and fall. Again a drop of lubricant will help keep it working smoothly.
Question: where do i buy just bees
Answer: Thank you for your inquiry into this product. Unfortunately, replacements are not available. If you have the original key, additional keys could be made by a locksmith. For more information regarding this product, or other Master Lock products please contact Customer Service Support at 800-464-2088.

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