FAQ

Please read Keeping Bees with a Smile and Keeping Bees in Horizontal Hives — the most comprehensive resources on natural beekeeping and horizontal hives. Horizontal hives are managed quite differently from the familiar vertical Langstroth hive, so it’s hard to be successful without the wisdom and practical information in these two books.

How to Get Started

WHICH HIVE DO I NEED?
Where to get local bees?
Chose the right equipment & how to use it.
Solid practical advice.
Straightforward and cost-effective.
Natural beekeeping that works.

Install Wax Foundation in Layens Frames

Embed wax sheets in wired frames in 15 seconds.
Quick and easy method.
Very strong attachment of wax.
No special equipment to buy.

Feed Bees — How, What, When, How Much

Why feed bees?
How to use a feeder correctly.
Honey vs. sugar syrup.
Feed swarms, established colonies, etc.
Concise practical advice.

Wintering Bees in Horizontal Hives

Maximize winter survival.
How to set up the nest for the winter.
How much honey to leave.
Hive insulation.
Mouse guards & other practical details.

Comb Collapse — How to Prevent & Fix

Overheating — how to prevent.
Prevent comb collapse in hot weather.
Simple, effective solutions.
Many options to choose from.
How to clean a hive after comb collapse.
Detailed, comprehensive free guide.

Propolis — How to Collect and Use It

Harvest lots of propolis (bee resin).
Use propolis collectors effectively.
Complete guide: how, what, when, and where.
How to store and process propolis.
Detailed, comprehensive free guide.

Convert Langstroth Hives to Layens

Save your existing comb.
Convert hives or nucs to Layens.
Quick and reliable: 30 minutes per hive.
Cut, attach & you’re done!
No jigs required.
Works with Langstroth, top-bar, Warre, etc.
Best method — highly recommended.

If Bees Run out of Room

What to do if bees fill the entire hive.
How to give bees more space.
Multiply your colonies.
Increase your honey crop.

Many more guides are in progress, so please join our email list below for more free advice and important updates (no spam; only 2-4 emails per year, and you can unsubscribe at any time). THANK YOU! – we’re working hard to bring you the bees... and the smile!

FAQ