A 6-window wooden hive, also known as a six-window or swarm hive, is a small hive that holds six simplex brood chamber windows. These windows are the same as those used in the thrift and/or simplex hive. Originally these hives were always made of wood, such as pine or red cedar, but today they are also available in kunststof, vaak gemaakt van EPS, a type of styrofoam. This type of hive, is ideal for housing a small hive, such as a swarm or depositor. Or to raise a small colony of bees. Its compact size makes the hive easy to transport, making it an indispensable piece of beekeeper equipment. Many keep such a hive in their car by default to scoop swarms.
The hive is also used in pollination, for making a depositor or sweeper, or housing a spare hive on a few windows of bees through, for example, the Aalster method, a technique for creating artificial swarms.
We always recommend priming and painting wooden hives to protect them from moisture. This prevents moisture from entering the hive through the outside. By preventing this, the hives will last much longer. Wood is sensitive to moisture and can expand or shrink as a result. A coat of paint provides a protective barrier. In our assortment you will find a wide selection of 100% natural verven, die een optimale bescherming bieden voor de buitenkant van een houten bijenkast. Voor extra bescherming kun je ook de binnenkant van de kast behandelen met propoleum. This also helps extend the life of the hive.
Historically, the hive was developed in England for the easy transportation of small swarms during a period of bee scarcity. During this period, many bee colonies, including Dutch ones, were exported to England. The small size of the hive, just big enough for one colony, was particularly useful at the time. The hive never disappeared and is still very widely used.