FREE FEDEX GROUND SHIPPING ON APIMAYE PRODUCTS ABOVE $35

Apimaye Defender Queen Hive - Apimaye
Apimaye Defender Queen Hive - Apimaye

Apimaye Defender Queen Hive [OUT OF STOCK]

Vendor
Apimaye-USA
Regular price
Sold out
Sale price
$335.00
Unit price
per 

SOLD OUT

Customer Reviews

Based on 7 reviews
71%
(5)
14%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
14%
(1)
K
Kevin Polk
Nucleus Colony Creation Hive (aka, Defender Queen Hive)

These hives are NOT expensive if you use them to create and sell nucleus colonies. Plus, while creating nucleus colonies, you will always have a spare queen when you need one for your honey-production hives. That means you never have to spend $$ on a new queen.

I know there are other ways of using the Defender Hive, but the nucleus-colony production method described by John C. below is easy and rewarding.

J
John Coleman
How I use the Defender

Apimaye Queen Defender method:

1. remove dividers, create one 10 frame brood chamber, close entrances.
2. Take 16 halves, 8 connectors, make 8 long frames. For strength, tie the 3 pieces with a zip tie.
3. 8 frames go in 1-4 and 7-10 slots, 2 open slots in the center. No Foundation needed.
4. Take two brood frames with queen from a strong hive, place them in 5 and 6 of the Defender, or use ten joined frames, installing a standard package + queen.
5. Fill all four feeders with 1:1 syrup.
6. next AM, open all four round entrances for the future 4 chambers. the landing board type entrances are too close for my comfort, and future returning queens could enter the wrong colony.
7. In 3 or more days, (it’s good to leave the colony to build to a good population, up to several weeks) inspect for new eggs. If there are new eggs in new comb in at least 4 half frames, remove the queen and her 2 original frames, separate all the frames, add the dividers assuring the discs are all in the closed position, and distribute the egg frames evenly among the four chambers. The 2 center frames and queen can be placed in their own nuc.
8. In 4-5 days after removal of the queen, check for new queen cells. Distribute them evenly between all 4 chambers.
9. 30 days from the split, check for newly mated laying queens and eggs in each chamber. As each queen “proves” her fertility, remove her to a new split. The workers will again produce a new queen from left back eggs.
10. Repeat from 9.

M
Michael
Nuc Creating Machine

This is an AMAZING addition to any apiary. I have been churning out healthy mated and laying queens all season. Integrated feeders work perfectly and the small frames are easy for them to draw out quickly.
I wish it had space for a bottom boats ask I could overwinter a single colony in there, but that's my only gripe.

H
Hank Y
Defender Queen Hive

This unit is incredibly well thought out. It is second to none as a queen rearing unit. You can raise up to four queens at a time with it, or if you prefer, 2 NUCs or even run it as a regular ten frame hive. As a hobbiest beekeeper I have learned my lessons well that having "backup queens" in case a hive goes queenless, to quickly queen a split, or to requeen a failing hive is key to success while maintaining your personal sanity! This unit is perfect for the hobbiest beekeeper to keep a small backstock of queens to use as needed. Every beekeeper really needs one of these units to complete their hive management strategy.

J
Jack
A great starter & queen maker

Im pretty sure this is a different size than the 10 frame systems. My preference will probably be the Ergo plus for most bottoms & sometimes to use the top as the top also & then add other types of supers.

This is an awesome starter & multi hive maintenance hive all In one. 1-4 hives in one box with feeders for each..etc..etc.

I almost started a (mostly wild) have in about 1.5 months late season & if I hadn't made stupid mistakes Id of at least had something going into winter.

I need at least 1 more of the queen defenders. Again great for maintaining multi hives &/or starting 1-4.

Sure its a little costly right off but add up the $ in built in options and really its cheap.


People who bought this product, also bought