NEW LAYENS BEE HIVE with FRAMES, INSULATED w/SHEEP'S WOOL - farm & garden - by owner - sale - craigslist (2024)

Layens style horizontal hives give the most successful over-winter advantage, they do not disrupt or stress your bees, and they're very simple to work with. Say goodbye to back aches and lifting heavy boxes and supers – the heaviest thing you’ll need to lift is a frame full of honey! I'm a private beekeeper and I use these hives exclusively. I build hives I've personally improved in design over the years that I would only use myself. Hives, frames, all components are hand-built in my home workshop using quality materials. If interested, or you would like more information, email or text and I'll reply promptly.

Included in the listed price is:
* 1 hive insulated with raw sheep's wool, with pitched roof.
* 10 Layens deep frames, assembled and wired. (additional frames available)
* 1 Divider board.
* Delivery within 20 miles, and I'll help you set it up.

I will consider shipping via FedEx or UPS at an extra charge - please inquire.

*HIVE BODY: Double wall plywood construction, more durable than solid wood and non-toxic to the bees. Insulated with 1.5” of natural, raw sheep wool, which has ten times the insulation value of conventional hives, providing superior insulation which mimics inside of a tree hollow, the bees’ natural environment. It keeps the bee colony toasty warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. Corners of the hive body are reinforced with aluminum angles. The entrances and ventilation holes are drilled at an angle to keep rain from entering. 3 lower entrance stainless steel gate discs included, along with 4th top entrance and ventilation disc. Hives are given 3 coats of paint to give long, durable protection from the elements.

*FRAMES: These hives take Layens deep frames, which are 13” long x 16” deep, and ideal for bees’ development and wintering. They allow bees to store vast amounts of honey right where the bees nest unlike vertical hive frames (like Langstroth or Warre). By comparison, a Layens frame is about 1.25 times the area size of a Langstroth frame. If you currently have different frames, or buy nucs (nucleus) that come in various frames, just about any can be converted to fit in these Layens frames.

*ROOF: The peaked roof is hinged with stainless steel piano hinges, ventilated top covered with aluminum, and has plenty of overhang to keep the hive dry in the rain. Roof is screened and meshed to keep insects, mice, and birds out, but allows for ventilation to keep the inside of the hive dry. The closed lid stays put during heavy winds and storms, but it's easy to lift up on the hinges and stays upright in place with stop blocks.

*MORE FEATURES: These hives are ideal for backyard and stationary apiaries. Many people have moved to using this type of hive due to how easy it is to inspect your colony and replace/add/remove frames. Open the top, do your work, close the top - done! Layens frames touch each other at the top bar, so bees are contained within the main nest when you open the lid of the hive. They are not stressed or get that sudden draft of heat or cold. No bees escape until you start prying the frames apart for inspection, and usually very little smoke is needed to calm the bees. A divider board on the side of the last frame also contains the colony, but the board is adjustable if you want to give bees access to the open space in the hive (for feeding, combining colonies, etc.). The roomy nature of this hive allows you to shift the colony to either side or the middle during the Spring inspection, so any moisture or other messes that accumulated during winter can be cleaned and aired out, which is vital to the colony's health.

Dimensions (not including the roof):
Interior L -13-3/4”
Interior H - 16-3/4”
Interior W - 31-7/8”
Exterior L - 18-1/8”
Exterior H - 18-15/16”
Exterior W - 36-1/4”
Volume -120 liters; 32 gallons; 7340 cubic inches
Overall wall/bottom thickness - 2-3/16”

Other items available at extra cost:
* Extra Layens deep frames, assembled and wired: $8 each.
* Bees wax foundation for frames and embedded in the wire - partial coverage, about 1/2 the top area of frame: $2 per frame.
* Hive stand, 16" tall, painted, made with 2x6 and 2x4 construction lumber: $60.
* Swarm trap, with aluminum telescoping/nested lid, made from plywood, painted, and comes with 6 Layens deep frames: $170.

*SWARM TRAPS: Or sometimes called bait boxes, these are for capturing local bee swarms and are the most cost-effective and healthiest way to add to your apiary. They use the same Layens deep frames as the hive, so just transfer your swarm trap frames with bees and comb on them to your Layens hive.

I do not sell bees or queens, I just build homes for them to thrive in! I'm also happy to share my experience using Layens style hives, since they're not as popular or as available as others out there. I've learned that these hives are superior to others, they improve over-wintering success supplying generation after generation of colonies for the beekeeper. And... the hives are easy to use!! Save the Bees! Happy Beekeeping!

keywords: beehive wasp hornet honeybee Siskiyou mountain natural beekeeping top bar Northern Western European Italian California Carniolan Saskatraz Cordovan Russian hybrid