Apimaye Defender Queen Hive [SOLD OUT]

This is a very nice toy to add to my toy box. So simple to use. It is basically a glorified set up for queen rearing but I couldn’t resist. I liked hooking the frames together till they were fully drawn which went quickly with Triple waxed Premier foundation cut to fit spaces. You can’t open the frames ….the foundation just fits in the spaces. We used a dab of glue on some. Great way to get them filled….hooking them together like ten frame. I put a package in and removed the queen after I had enough frames with eggs to go around four ways. So I went over to check them out yesterday ….i guess too early because there were queens all over the place. I saw one with a newly mated mark which was pretty cool and another went in the wrong hive and I managed to save her from an angry ball….i think that I was in the way. Very easy if you set it up and stay out of the way. Bee orgy in the garden.

There are many methods and options to raising queen bees, and this equipment allows flexibility to raise queens so any beekeeper can be successful. The ability to run this as a ten frame single deep colony sets it apart from most other options for queen rearing. Partitioning options are what probably most settled the discussion for me. I can drop in a five/four frame Nuc with a queen from excellent breeding stock on one side, open the bee doors to allow them to draw comb and store resources on the two four frame small partitions, and when ready remove the queen to a colony in need while allowing the newly queen less colony to start making queen cells. Distribute and separate all four partitions and you have up to four new queens, or up to four new starter colonies. Lots of steps in the middle, but the point is if you have another way, or idea, you can do you. The only thing I don’t like is the frames and joiners, but there are options to resolve that too (21stBee). Really pleased with this product!

I go to Florida from Dec thru April. I Leave the bees on their own. I Left 7 frame hive in 2 colony configuration with a deep super all winter. Both colonies survived the Maine winter. I have purchased 3 Ergo hives this summer and am looking forward to all of them living through winter. Issues I have had are you don't use the hive tool the same way to separate boxes. I put the tool at the corner using it's side and lever the box up. Ants get into the feeder easily but do not seem to bother the bees. If you want to use Formic pro you have to remove 3 screws and the entrance reducer. I replace it with hardware cloth to maintain ventilation but prevent robbers and wasps from getting in. Animate has been very responsive to questions I have asked.

I really like this queen hive. I can’t wait to get a few more of them.

i have been beekeeping for 7 years now, the apimaye is the first hive that has made it through the winter for me, results speak for themselves, best hive around, highly recommend if you can afford.