Double-walled William Broughton Carr (WBC) Hive

The WBC hive is probably the first thing that came to your mind when you started reading this article. The hive sits on a stand and has sloping sides as well as a gable roof. The creator of this design, William Broughton Carr, created this hive in the 20th century. It was designed for the climate of the British Isles.

Although this is the most attractive type, it’s expensive and can be somewhat challenging for beginners to manage. For instance, the WBC is double walled, which means that it will take some extra time for you to dismantle the outer parts before gaining access to the brood box and supers.

Single-walled Box Hives

These hives look like a set of drawers. This is the most common type, because you can easily buy the components from beekeeping suppliers. However, when you buy extra parts, make sure that they will fit your particular design. The box hive might not be as aesthetically pleasing to you, but it’s easier to manage and can house more bees.

Other Hives

There are also bar hives, which are predominately used in Africa. This design has a movable fame, and the beekeeper removes all of the honeycombs. Similar to a birdhouse, the bar hive can be made with cheap materials.

A variation of the bar hive is the top bar hive, which is longer and deeper. This type of hive expands horizontally and can be mounted off of the ground.

The bar hive and top bar hive are designs that keep the beekeeper’s needs and wants in mind.

Whichever hive you choose to use, make sure that it suits your beekeeping experience more than your style. However, the cedarwood hives can be painted, but the bees don’t mind if the wood is left in its natural state.

• The stand is what keeps the hive off of the ground, but it has to be sturdy enough to hold the weight of the honey.
• The floor is the entrance, and it protects the bottom of the hive.
• The Varroa screen is a mesh screen between the brood box and the floor, which allows the Varroa mite (a bee parasite) to fall to the floor and die.
• The frames contain a wax foundation, which is meant to encourage the bees to make the comb.
• The foundation is sturdier when wired, and it has wax molds of hexagons on both sides.
• The brood box is where the queen and most of the colony live. This section might hold between 10 and 14 frames, and it should be kept at 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The queen excluder prevents the queen from moving from the brood box to the super box. However, worker bees can pass through easily.
• The supers are boxes above the brood box, which hold shallow frames with the foundation. The bees will store honey here so this is where you will harvest it from.
• The crown board fits over the brood and supers, and its main purpose is to keep heat in. This part is often made of wood.
• The roof of the hive is similar to the roof of a house. It protects the bees from the elements and is sometimes covered with a thin sheet of metal.