Warre Hives
What is a Warre hive?
A Warre hive is a vertical top bar hive that uses square boxes (rather than rectangular) smaller than a traditional Langstroth hive, with 8 foundationless top bars in each box. The bars can be nailed into the boxes or left unattached. The roof is gabled and includes a quilt box underneath containing sawdust or wood shavings. This allows for the retention of nest scent and increased moisture absorption that is meant to mimic a real tree cavity the bees might inhabit in the wild.
Rather than “supering,” or adding empty boxes to the top of the hive, Warre hives are “nadired,” meaning that empty boxes are added to the bottom. This, also, is meant to mimic the environment of a wild colony, as they will always build downward from the top of the cavity rather than upward.
Warre hives are meant for hands-off, minimalist beekeeping practices – in other words, the bees know best and we are simply trying to provide them the ideal environment in which to live and thrive!
More Warre Hive information:
