Our hives have no need for paint because we double coat each of our hives in wax. The first coating is of earthwax followed by a second coating of 100% natural beeswax. This unique combination provides a durable and sustainable method of protection.

The process begins with raising the temperature of our first coating. After the earthwax hits just the right temperature, we dip the wood from the bee boxes, inner cover, telescoping top cover, and bottom boards in it and allow the wax to impregnate the wood. After a few minutes of being submerged, the hive parts are then raised out from the wax to dry. The earthwax we use is made from an organic blend of paraffin and a mineral called Ozokerite. This blend of wax is what gives your hive the durability it needs.

For the second coat, we take the already impregnated wood and dip it in 100% beeswax. We then take the wood out from the wax and allow it to dry. Beeswax makes adds a second layer of protection to the wood while making the bees feel at home in their new hive. This second coating is what gives the hive parts their beautiful golden honey finish.

We do not recommend using paints because they contain preservatives and pesticides which are added to kill mildew and bacteria. These additives may also cause concern for a healthy bee colony. Even latex paints can pose a problem, although not as hazardous as these other elements. Latex paints contain crystalline silica, which when inhaled causes lung disease such as silicosis and possibly cancer.

Hoover Hives use natural beeswax to protect their hives. We are concerned about the safety and viability of your hives and your bee colony’s health. Not only is beeswax more natural and healthy for your hive, but has also proved to enhance the speed at which the bees take to the foundations. We believe this provides more familiar surrounding for the bees, keeping them calm and focused on the task at hand.

The heart of bee keeping is making sure the bees are happy in their environment. There are a number of factors that help in this.

Moisture is a big issue with bees in the production of honey. They are constantly trying to regulate the moisture content in the honey without the added stress of any outside environmental liquids. Coating the boxes, bottom board, and top cover in beeswax keeps the hive protected from the rain & snow. These elements of the hive are coated on the outside as well as the inside. This helps prevent the moisture that is already in the hive from penetrating the wood and trapping it inside. Excess moisture trapped in the wood causes the hive to rot and increases the chance of disease within the colony.

In many colder climates a real concern among beekeepers is to check and make certain the bees are warm enough to survive the winter. The thickness of the wood used to construct our hives measures at 3/4” which is a little thicker than most hives. A thicker cut like this will add to the insulation value of the hive. The method we use to incorporate this additional thickness expands the outside of the hive, but not the inside – this allows you to use all standard hive components. A well-insulated hive has an easier time maintaining temperatures. Hoover Hives require less effort from your bees and helps them conserve energy through the winter.

Another point of pride Hoover Hives takes in their product, is the superior craftsmanship of precision cuts and tight dovetail joints. Although the main task in a colony is honey production, what accompanies that is the protection of their food supply. Hives that have loose joints and multiple access points allow for intruders, such as Small Hive Beetles and Varroa Mites. Bees will work hard generating propolis, which is a bee glue that helps fill breaches in the hive.

REVIEWS

happy clients

Michi K

The hive is beautiful, love the darker natural wood look. For the most part it fit together easily. I appreciate that they cut true dovetails. The carved bee is aesthetically pleasing as well.

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Bryan Connary

Excellent quality product. Went together perfectly. Would recommend this hive to anyone. Came with exactly the right amount of parts and pieces. We did pre drill everything before we nailed anything to avoid splitting the wood. GREAT BARGAIN

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Kay

I’m an apprentice bee keeper. Got this kit and was initially overwhelmed by all of the pieces. One beautiful afternoon I spread them out and got started. Assembly was easy but took about 4 hours. The box is coated with wax which is good. It’s really pretty and I’m sure the bees will love it.

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Take a Look

Inside Our Hives

What is Included

Top Cover

Our telescoping top cover comes preassembled with attached metal roof. The roof is galvanized metal to resist rust and the wood is coated in wax for added protection. The significant overhang on this cover helps shelter the hive from precipitation and direct sunlight.

Inner Cover

Our inner cover comes preassembled. The purpose of an inner cover is to provide the correct bee space on the top hive body and provide good air ventilation within the hive. This inner cover is outfitted with an opening for the free passage of bees. The opening is an industry standard oval shape that allows to insert a bee escape for easy harvesting.

Wood Frames

Our frames are made of high-quality pine. The side bars are predrilled for those who would like to use wired foundations. The top and bottom bars of the frame contain grooves to accept the plastic foundations provided. Our frames come with nails for easy assembly.

Foundations

We provide CellTech foundations. These foundations are made of food grade plastic and come coated in 100% beeswax. They have a sharper edge than most competitors allowing for quick acceptance by the bees to draw out the foundation. These require no reinforcement and slip easily into the groves of the frame.

Queen Excluder

The queen excluder is critical if the purpose of the hive is for honey production. This keeps the queen from laying her brood eggs in the super boxes. Our queen excluder is made of a flexible plastic, allowing it to be removed with our harming other hive elements.

Wood Bodies

Our hive bodies are made out of high-quality wood and dovetailed joints that are precision cut for easy assembly. The bodies are double wax dipped for protection from the weather. The wax coating is an eco-friendly, sustainable option for those not wanting to use toxic paint.

Bottom Board

The base of the hive is a solid bottom board, coated in beeswax. As moisture gets into the hive and gravity brings it to the bottom, the wax coating prevents any liquid from penetrating the wood causing it to rot. The entrance reducer provided, creates a tight seal to help obstruct any unwanted intruders.

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