Plans

We’ve prepared some detailed well-illustrated free plans for your horizontal hive-building enjoyment.

Layens Hive — CLASSICAL HORIZONTAL HIVE

  • Inside dimensions mimic a natural tree hollow.
  • Accepts 14 Layens frames.
  • Thick warm walls — great overwintering.
  • Requires only two hive visits per year.
  • One million hives currently in use.
  • Under $50 in materials to build.
       

Insulated Layens Hive — DR. LEO’S CHOICE

  • Insulated with 1-1/2” of raw wool.
  • Best protection for bees in any climate.
  • 10x more insulation than conventional hives.
  • Accepts 20 Layens frames.
  • One hundred years of successful use.
  • Easy management and good overwintering.
  • Light and durable; non-toxic plywood.
  • Versatile design with 3 entrances.
  • Intelligently engineered & thoroughly tested.
       

Peaked Roof for Insulated Layens Hive

  • Gable roof for the insulated horizontal hive.
  • Extend the life of your hive box.
  • 4” overhang sheds water and provides shade.
  • Ventilated attic space aids temperature control.
  • Attached with hinges — swing the roof open!
  • Beautiful and useful.
       

Hive Stand for Insulated Layens Hives

  • Works with Layens insulated hives.
  • Improved design and simple construction.
  • Keeps your Layens hive up from the ground.
  • Protects bees from predators and moisture.
  • Raises the hive to a comfortable working height.
  • Read about other stand alternatives.

Layens Frame

  • The classical frame for Layens horizontal hives.
  • Dimensions based on natural tree hollows.
  • Ideal overwintering & strong spring buildup.
  • Self-spacing for utmost convenience.
  • Top bars touch — retains heat and no bee disturbance.
  • 30% more comb than a deep Langstoth.
  • Over 125 years of successful use.
  • Used in over one million hives today.
       

Foundationless Frame — Layens

  • Foundationless frame for Layens horizontal hives.
  • Preferred by the bees.
  • Reliable guide for straight combs.
  • Allows for partial cut-comb harvest.
  • Three different models.
  • Over 125 years of successful use.
       

Layens Bait Hive (Swarm Trap) / Starter Hive

  • Accepts seven Layens frames.
  • Solid wood construction throughout.
  • Convenient entrance gates.
  • Versatile: swarm trap, hive, nuc, frame box.
  • Can overwinter medium colonies.
  • Connecting 2 boxes makes Layens 14-frame hive.
  • Aluminum-clad top keeps elements out.
  • High swarm-catching success rate.
       

Layens Swarm Trap

  • Accepts six Layens frames.
  • Lightweight and durable.
  • Aluminum-covered top keeps elements out.
  • Simple to build.
  • High swarm-catching success rate.
       

Divider board — Layens — NEW!

  • Divide a Layens hive in several compartments.
  • Versatile and useful.
  • Hive swarms; make splits; prepare for winter.
  • Simple 10-minute project.
  • Two models: plywood or Styrofoam.
  • As described in Keeping Bees With a Smile.
       

Screened bottom board — Layens

  • Fits Layens horizontal hives.
  • Helps to control pests.
  • Minimizes pollen and wax losses.
  • Lower maintenance — twice per year.
  • Simple 1-hr project.
       

Layens Frame Assembly Jig

  • Holds frame parts square while you staple ’em.
  • Works with a narrow-crown stapler.
  • Simple to build.
  • Huge time saver.
  • Assemble 100 Layens frames per hour!
       

Layens Frame Wiring Jig

  • Wire a frame in 90 seconds!
  • Makes wiring and tightening wire easy.
  • Huge time saver.
  • Sturdy simple construction.
       

Layens Frame Rack

  • Organize your Layens frames.
  • Use during extraction, for frame storage, etc.
  • Can be made any length.
  • Lightweight design, easy to carry.
  • Stackable: store 100 frames on four sq. feet.
  • Simple 30-minute project.
       

Layens Half-Frames & Supers — NEW!

  • Expand your horizontal hive vertically.
  • Use for strong honeyflows, queen rearing, etc.
  • Supers can be made to fit any hive size.
  • Compatible with all Layens hives.
  • Simple design, easy to build.
  • Frame assembly jig included.
       

Layens Bee Bed — NEW!

  • Large Layens hive you can sleep on.
  • Bathe in the bees’ warmth, vibes, and smells.
  • Amazingly relaxing and soothing.
  • Many therapeutic uses.
  • Houses four 12-frame colonies.
       

Layens Bee Bed, Upper Part — NEW!

  • Complete your Layens bee bed.
  • Beautiful and comfortable sleep chamber.
  • Big window for great views.
  • Updated design with many improvements.
  • Tips for successful use.
       

Convert Langstroth Hive To Layens

  • Transfer bees from Langstroth to Layens hives.
  • Fast and simple.
  • Works with both deep and medium Lang frames.
  • No need to cut comb.
  • Gentle on the bees.
       

Layens Mouse Guard & Landing Board

  • Simple & durable landing board.
  • Integrated mouse guard / entrance reducer.
  • Keep mice out of your Layens hives.
  • Plans based on de Layens’ own design.
  • Simple 10-minute project.

Layens Hive Stand — Old Version

  • Older version of hive stand plans.
  • Improved newer version is here.
  • Keeps your Layens hive up from the ground.
  • Protects bees from predators and moisture.
  • Raises the hive to a comfortable working height.
  • Simple and inexpensive to build.

Long Langstroth Hive

  • Accepts 31 regular deep frames.
  • Simple construction — a 3-hr project.
  • Very economical — under $50 in materials.
  • Thick warm walls — twice the insulation value.
  • Integrated hive stand.

Gable Roof — for Horizontal Hives

  • Fits our Long Langstroth Hive model.
  • Protects the hive box from sun and rain.
  • Well-insulated and ventilated.
  • Covered with aluminum — extra-durable.
  • Opens on hinges — very convenient.
  • 3-hr project; $25 materials cost.
  • It looks pretty!

Ventilated Roof & Cover Boards

  • Fits our Long Langstroth Hive model.
  • Great choice for warm and hot climates.
  • Layer of cover boards minimize bee disturbance.
  • Ventilated top eliminates moisture.
  • Prevents overheating in the summer.
  • Can be insulated for the winter.
  • Layens-style top, can be adapted to any hive.

Screened Bottom With Pans

  • Fits our Long Langstroth Hive model.
  • Helps to control pests.
  • Improves ventilation, lowers moisture.
  • Drawer design preserves nest microclimate.
  • Opens on hinges for easy inspection.
  • Accepts three standard oil pans.
  • Material cost: $25. Building time: 2 hrs.

Bee Bed — Sleep With Your Bees!

  • As seen in the American Bee Journal.
  • Huge horizontal hive you can sleep in.
  • Bathe in the bees’ warmth, vibes, and smells.
  • Amazingly relaxing and soothing.
  • Many therapeutic uses.
  • Opens on hinges for easy access.
  • Accepts 55 standard deep frames (2 colonies).
  • Material cost: $200. Building time: 12 hrs.

Swarm Trap Lite — Bait Hive

  • Used to lure flying swarms — get free local bees!
  • The model described in Keeping Bees With a Smile.
  • Accepts 6 extra-deep or 6 standard Langstroth frames.
  • Ideal volume to attract swarms — 53 liters (14 gal).
  • Plywood construction, aluminum-covered top.
  • Durable and lightweight (just 15 lb).
  • Super-economical — $15 in materials.
  • Simple to build — 1 hr work per trap.
  • We get 50% success rate with these traps!

Lazutin Horizontal Hive — Single-Wall

  • “Starter” Lazutin horizontal hive.
  • Accepts 25 extra-deep frames (18-1/2” deep).
  • Made of a single sheet of 3/4” plywood.
  • Economical — $40 in materials.
  • Simple construction — a 3-hr project.
  • Entrance raised above bottom for mite control.
  • Removable back panel for bottom cleanup.
  • Well-insulated top.

Double-Deep Horizontal Hive

  • Accepts up to 50 regular deep frames in two tiers.
  • End walls open for frame access.
  • Similar to Lazutin hive in design and volume.
  • Made of a single sheet of 3/4” plywood.
  • Economical — $40 in materials.
  • Simple construction — a 3-hr project.
  • Entrance raised above bottom for mite control.
  • Well-insulated top.

Extra-deep Frame — For Lazutin Hives

  • The 18-1/2”-deep frame to use in Lazutin hives.
  • Same frame length as Langstroth.
  • Top bars touch — minimal bee disturbance.
  • Strong mortise joints require no nails.
  • Assembles on glue.
  • Built with a table saw and a mortising machine.

Extra-Deep Frame — Easy-To-Build

  • The 18-1/2”-deep frame to use in Lazutin hives.
  • Same frame length as Langstroth.
  • Top bars do not touch — added versatility.
  • Simplified version — very easy to make.
  • Built with a table saw and a drill.
  • Assembles on glue and screws.

Many more plans are in progress, so please join our email list below for more free plans and important updates (no spam; only 2-3 emails per year, and you can unsubscribe at any time). THANK YOU! – and let’s go make some sawdust!

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