The Flow Hive's brood frames are designed to support natural bee behavior by being foundationless, allowing bees to build comb with varying cell sizes for different bee types. These frames are included with all Flow Hives and are part of a system that may require additional brood boxes or supers during peak seasons to prevent swarming. The design also accommodates drone brood management through the use of queen excluders and upper entrances, ensuring drones can exit without clogging the system. Bees naturally clean frames after brood cycles, reducing maintenance needs.
Key Points Explained:
-
Foundationless Design
- The brood frames come without pre-formed foundation, enabling bees to construct natural comb structures.
- This allows for varied cell sizes, which are essential for rearing worker bees, drones, and queens, mimicking wild hive conditions.
-
Inclusion with Flow Hive
- Every Flow Hive includes these foundationless brood frames as standard, ensuring compatibility with the system’s modular design.
-
Drone Brood Management
- If drone brood appears in Flow frames, a queen excluder can be placed between the brood box and the super to prevent queen access.
- An upper entrance ensures drones can escape, avoiding blockages or fatalities in the super.
-
Self-Cleaning by Bees
- Frames that have housed brood do not require manual cleaning; bees naturally remove debris and residual wax.
-
Seasonal Space Requirements
- During summer, hives may need 2–3 brood boxes to prevent overcrowding and swarming.
- The Flow Hive initially includes one brood box, but additional boxes or supers can be added as needed.
-
Integration with Flow System
- The brood frames work in tandem with Flow Hive’s honey-harvesting technology, ensuring a balanced hive environment for both brood rearing and honey production.
This design prioritizes bee welfare while simplifying beekeeping tasks, aligning with the Flow Hive’s ethos of low-intervention, natural hive management.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Foundationless Design | Allows bees to build natural comb with varied cell sizes for workers, drones, and queens. |
| Included with Flow Hive | Standard compatibility with modular hive setup. |
| Drone Brood Management | Queen excluders and upper entrances prevent blockages and support drone exit. |
| Self-Cleaning by Bees | Reduces maintenance—bees naturally clean residual wax and debris. |
| Seasonal Space Flexibility | Add brood boxes or supers to prevent swarming during peak seasons. |
| Flow System Integration | Balances brood rearing and honey production for low-intervention beekeeping. |
Upgrade your apiary with Flow Hive’s bee-friendly brood frames—contact HONESTBEE today for wholesale inquiries!
