beekeeping equipment

The ultimate guide to using slatted racks in beehives

A slatted rack is an optional piece of equipment that can benefit your bees all year long.

Inside: Slatted racks are confusing to new beekeepers. Which side is the top? Which end is the front? Where do they go in the stack of hive boxes? What good do they do? Here are your questions answered.

I was a newbee when my mentor took one look at my overcrowded, bearding colony and said, “I think you need a slatted rack.” And then he left.

Huh? What the heck was he talking about? And later, when I asked around, people who never used one told me they were worthless. After all, they assured me, if you needed one, it would have come with your beginner kit.

I have a tendency (more like a strict rule) not to listen to the overly-self confident, so I bought my first slatted rack and never looked back.

What is a slatted rack?

A slatted rack is an optional piece of beekeeping equipment often used in Langstroth hives. The rack (sometimes called a brood rack) is about two inches high and is placed between the bottom board and the lowest brood box.

The rack has the same outside dimensions as a standard Langstroth hive. The modern version has ten slats that run in the same direction as the frames in the brood box, with space between each one. In addition, it often has a 4-inch wide board that runs parallel to the front of the hive. You frequently see slatted racks in hobby hives but rarely in commercial hives.

What is the purpose of a slatted rack?

The purpose of a slatted rack is to provide dead air space below the brood chamber. This layer of air helps to keep the colony cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

To prevent developing brood from overheating in summer, honey bees are reluctant to accumulate in the nest. Instead, they may beard on the front of the hive or below the hive stand. However, if you add a slatted rack, the adult bees have a place to gather inside the hive without crowding the brood area. In addition, the extra space makes fanning easier and more efficient, which can improve ventilation and promote the curing of your honey.

Some people believe that the purpose of a slatted rack is simply to reduce bearding. But others believe the extra space inside the hive can delay or reduce swarming by relieving overall congestion. Unfortunately, I have no statistics on either of these claims. Still, I love climbing under my hives on a hot day and watching all those bees congregate on the rack. They look happy! (Okay, scratch that, they look like bees.)

In winter, with entrances reduced and varroa boards in place, the slatted rack provides an insulating layer of air between the brood nest and the outside. It also moves the brood nest further from the cold and drafty hive entrance.

Any other advantages?

A queen may resist laying eggs close to the hive entrance, possibly because of fluctuations in air temperature. But by using a slatted rack to move the lowest combs further from the entrance, you can increase the amount of usable brood-raising space.

Is this a new invention?

Absolutely not. Back in 1900, Dr. C. C. Miller came up with the idea of providing a resting place for bees below the brood nest. This idea probably came from observing feral colonies. Bees in the wild attach their first combs to the top of their cavity and build down, adding more and more combs beneath the originals. Often the workers cluster on the very bottom, below the nest, in hot weather. The slatted rack gives hive-dwelling bees a similar opportunity.

Later, in about 1950, Carl Killion added the four-inch board along the front of the rack, apparently to reduce draftiness. But the guy who got all the credit for slatted racks was Richard F. Bovard of Honolulu. Bovard was a woodworker who devised an easy way to construct the rack as a one-piece unit, so for many years, these were known as Bovard racks.

Which way do the slats go?

In the original design, the slats ran perpendicular to the brood frames. In fact, you still see these occasionally, except now we call these “horizontal slatted racks.” However, with the introduction of varroa mites and the common use of screened bottom boards, beekeepers wanted slats that ran parallel to the brood frames so mites could fall freely through the frames and the rack to the screen below.

This modern design is sometimes called a “vertical slatted rack.” You can buy them fully assembled for ten- and eight-frame equipment. My favorite one—no longer made—was a ten-frame version that came unassembled. It was cool because you could put in either 9 or 10 slats, depending on how many frames you used per brood box.

On the other hand, since screened bottom boards are not very good at eliminating varroa from a hive, I don’t think the alignment of slats and frames makes much difference. After all, slatted racks are not designed for varroa control. They are good at what they do but they can’t do everything.

This slatted rack was built by Rick Cheverton based on plans by Matthew Waddington. © Rick Cheverton.

Do all slatted racks have the horizontal board in front?

No. Some of the recent models leave that part out. The purpose of the horizontal board was to reduce turbulence caused by air coming through the entrance. It was also said to reduce the amount of light entering the brood area, which the queen will shy away from.

Apparently, it is cheaper to build a slatted rack without the horizontal board, but if you want the full benefit from having a slatted rack, I would look for one that has all the features.

When do you install the rack?

I always use a slatted rack, and I leave it in place all year long. I install it when I set up a new hive, even a nuc, and never take it out. In fact, some of the modern long Langstroths, such as the Valkyrie long hive, come with the slatted rack built in.

How do you tell the bottom from the top?

Good question. Newer ones are marked with something like “This side up.” That’s because zillions of beekeepers insert them upside down, which causes a horrendous mess when the bees fill it with comb. Unfortunately (I sheepishly admit) I know this from experience.

The top side is the shallow side. There should be bee space (about 3/8 inches) between the bottom of the brood frames and the top of the slats. If there is more space, the bees will fill it with comb, attaching it to the bottom of the brood frames and the inside of the slatted rack. Not good.

While we’re thinking about orientation, don’t forget that the four-inch wide board goes toward the front of the hive, near the opening. Slatted racks can be confusing at first, so pay attention.

Won’t bees build under the slatted rack?

Although I have never seen bees build under the rack, I suppose they could. With bees, things happen, which is why you have a hive tool.

Do you recommend slatted racks for everyone?

As I said earlier, they are optional. They add expense to a hive and they make it both taller and heavier. But I love them and consider them to be part of a standard setup. Some beekeepers think slatted racks should be universally accepted as standard equipment, but sadly, they don’t come close. My recommendation is to try one and see how it works for you.

Tips for building your own

One of my readers, David Manning of Sparta, Missouri, builds his own seriously good-looking slatted racks. If you are so inclined, read his post on How to build a slatted rack. Also, plans by another woodworking artist (and master draftsman), Matthew Waddington of Duvall, Washington, can be found here.

Otherwise, most bee supply companies sell slatted racks fully assembled. I usually paint the outside before placing it above the bottom board, as shown below.

Any questions? Let me know!

Rusty
Honey Bee Suite

Top-view-of-slatted-rack-David-Manning

Top view of a slatted rack made by David Manning. © David Manning

About Me

I backed my love of bee science with a bachelor’s degree in Agronomic Crops and a master’s in Environmental Studies. I write extensively about bees, including a current column in American Bee Journal and past columns in Two Million Blossoms and Bee Craft. I’ve endured multiple courses in melittology and made extensive identifications of North American bees for iNaturalist and other organizations. My master beekeeper certificate issued from U Montana. I’m also an English nerd. More here.

73 Comments

  • I used a couple this year and I’m not sure of all the benefits but my bees seem to cap the honey quicker than other people in my area.

  • Your piece on slatted racks is very interesting; I’m a bit surprised they aren’t used more in the UK. Since I began beekeeping I have fitted canopies above my hive entrances to provide some shelter for the many bees which often “”hang out” on the alighting boards, sometimes even in heavy rain and I might try a slatted rack. I would have to custom-build it, though, as I use national hives, not Langstroth. Any tips?

    • Alun, I also asked if anyone had experience with national size slatted racks but I guess not.

      Someone once told me that they used to be very popular in the old days (UK) but fell out of favour for some reason or other. Possibly due to cost who knows?

      Cheers John

      • Hi John, I made two up, they cost me about £9 each. As my hives are well positioned and warm-way I’ve left out the “apron” so as to permit maximum mite-drop. The slats are loose at present as I can’t be quite certain they’ll line up with the frames when I come to fit them. I asked my association whether anyone used them and got no response whatsoever!
        I have the personal notes of a previous, now-deceased, local beekeeper; I will check for any mention.

  • I love the slatted racks and I have them on all my hives. I absolutely agree, they do build comb under it and extra caution should be taken when doing oxalic acid vaporization with the wand. In the photo you can see how I burned part of the comb with the wand.

    Slatted rack with comb built underneath.

    Some wax got melted with the oxalic acid wand.

  • Varroa boards. I guess they are like IPM boards. I live in Maryland and leave them out all year except when I vape and want to see the results. I have been told by someone who’s opinion I value highly not to leave them in. Forgot the reasoning but have not lost a hive over the winter for two years.

      • Rusty are you saying that you leave the screened bottom boards open all winter? Could you or have you done a piece on the pros and cons of solid bottom boards in winter vs open screened bottom board? If you use open screened bottom boards do you put in IPM boards to reduce the draft during cold spells and if so, below what temperature do you slip in the IPM boards?

        I have done a lot of reading on this and as always there are so many differing opinions.

        • Hillary,

          I generally leave the IPM boards out all winter. Sometimes, if the temperature drops into the 20s F for a week or more, I may slide them in. But as soon as it gets out of the 20s, I remove them. It all depends on your climate. Here where I live, moisture is the biggest problem, not cold. So doing what I do may not be best for you.

  • Rusty,

    I know you wrote this specifically for me right? I don’t really believe that but your timing is perfect. I just placed my order with Mannlake and I will be putting slatted racks on my half of my hives. As always thank you for all the great information!! Whenever I have any questions about anything beekeeping related your blog is always one of my first searches.

  • I’ve used slatted racks now for a couple of years. I’ve always made my own except finally my beekeeping store started to make them because more than a couple of people have asked for them.

    I bought a couple of theirs this year as I was in a hurry to set up a couple of hives. They are essential now to me. The next one I make I am going to add another horizontal board just at the edge of the bottom front lip. I’ve read the russians do this to help keep the wasps out. The narrow space they have to crawl through for a few inches allows the bees to attack them and drive them out. I just like making stuff as I don’t have any wasp issues now because I use fripinol to kill the wasp hive queens. A couple of drops in cat food wipes out all the pesky buggers!

    My winter project this year is to make a 3 in one syrup feeder, candy board feeder and moisture quilt for the top once done syrup feeding. It will help get rid of a lot of excess spacers and reduce my plastic ziploc syrup feeder waste. Should be fun! I love beekeeping. All 7 hives in 3 different locations are doing great. Didn’t get much honey this year but all the bees are alive so that is most excellent.

    • Hello,

      I got my slatted racks shipped to my parents’ house and mentioned that I was hoping to paint them, but didn’t specify only the outside part. My dad, trying to be helpful, painted the whole rack, including the inside part. Is the paint being inside going to be ok for the bees? Or do I need to start over and get new slatted racks?

      I appreciate any advice, thanks

  • I have always used them and my husband built one for my Warre hive as well. I did not like to see vulnerable comb with brood hanging down in front of the entrance before I used them. Highly recommend?

  • My mentor said I didn’t need slatted racks, but the hives I inherited came with them so I kept them in place. I’m in Northern CA, where there’s been severe drought conditions for at least the last four years, and I swear those racks have helped sustain my colonies during the brutally hot conditions that have become the norm for my part of the country.

  • Great article! I have been making my own mortise and tenon slatted racks for years now. They are just as important as an outer cover and I would never consider having a hive without one. With all of the problems facing bees and beekeepers today, we must do everything possible to give these amazing creatures every advantage.

  • A bit of history and a bit of elaboration…

    About 35 years ago when I was working for a commercial concern slatted racks were the current thing in the bee magazines and I ask my employer about what he thought of the idea. The spin on slatted racks at that time was they would limit swarming, which I would guess if they reduced congestion in the brood nest they should do to some degree. When I ask my employer what he thought of the idea his reply was “they seem to work after a fashion.” It seems he and his dad had tried them some 20 years prior to that date and some times they worked and sometimes they did not. It seem to me the larger message at the time that “everything old is new again.”

    Beyond the above stated + of slatted rack they will also limit light at the very bottom of the frames which will encourage the queen to lay right up to the bottom bar. This is a good example of ‘marginal’ effect but X 10 frames would be a definite positive. This behavior is associated with the photo sensitive negative* characteristic of queens (which you can witness directly if you search for a queen and watch her actively move to the back side of the frame).

    I was just wondering on the construction of the slatted rack if 9 bars would be the right construction method if you only run 9 frames in a 10 frame box?

    *Another possible variable here is…. worker bees are photo sensitive negative until about the age of 12 days and then become photo sensitive positive after the age of 12 days.

    Gene in Central Texas…

    • Gene,

      That’s interesting about the young workers. I wasn’t aware of the switch in photo-sensitivity.

      As for the number of slats, I really like the 9-slat racks for a 9-slat brood box. Seems to make sense to me.

  • What would be the difference between a slatted rack and just a 2″ shim between the brood box and the bottom board? I guess the slats give more surface area for the bees to cluster?

    • JImmy,

      Yes, the slats allow more room to cluster. If you just used a shim between the brood box and the bottom board, you would violate bee space and the bees would extend the combs down to the bottom board.

  • I used slatted racks in 8 colonies 6 years ago. The bees built comb down from the bottom of the slatted racks on from 1 to 3 of the slats. As Ioana said, in such situations inserting a hot pan-type OA applicator into the bottom entrance is asking for trouble. Because of that (and despite changing over from pan-type to a ProVap), I stopped using them. But, truthfully, my colonies have never been better and I wonder how it is possible anyway to gauge whether or not the slatted racks are beneficial – simply by a reduction of bearding? Rhetorically speaking.

  • I’ve seen/heard a lot about these over the years. The only downside seems to be the initial cost. At least that’s the only thing I’ve heard the naysayers point to. Opponents claim they do nothing but cost money.

    Their supporters claim they cure cancer and will bring peace to the middle east…etc.

    Personally, I tend toward the middle in such debates. They may or may not live up to the claims but they aren’t hard to build and less than 20 bucks to buy. A small price to pay even if all it gives you is a little peace of mind. Seems rather silly to dismiss them without giving them a try. If they live up to any of their claims for *you,* it would be well worth such a small investment. If they do nothing at all, you haven’t lost a lot.

  • From a purely “environmental controls” perspective, this is almost similar to what’s known as a pelmet. Here’s one of the better diagrams I’ve found: https://www.ecomaster.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Window-Convection-Pelmets-vs-No-Pelmets-1280px.jpg

    One might conclude that adding an additional drop wall to the horizontal front board , could actually cut drafts further – much like that double door you see in mall entrances, or larger buildings – to ‘gate’ the air circulation.
    Also one key thing as shown here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelmet
    Pelmets could also be used on the front of the hives – those could called (or akin) semi-enclosed awnings or entrances on “human buildings”. 🙂 In short, a really good idea for insulating hives from drafts – to create that dead air space.

  • Great article, Rusty and thank you and the others for the plans. I have 11 hives and only 1 has a slatted rack that a friend gave me. I thought I’d try it and it really does seem to create all the advantages you documented here. I’ll be making 10 more slatted racks this winter to install in the spring. Thanks for the many wonderful posts. You are one of my “go to” sources for outstanding, fact-based bee information. I believe I am a better beekeeper because of you!

  • Thanks for this info. I am always used slatted racks but I think I forgot why! I like the suggestion that it provides airflow which encourages the queen to lay to the bottom of the frames above.

    You mentioned screened bottom boards often thought to help with mites. I’ve been using screened boards but because of air flow. Some of my hives are on pallets and some are on 2×4 on cement blocks.

    Do you recommend screened or solid bottom boards? Thanks!!

    • Sandy,

      I much prefer screened bottom boards, mostly because of ventilation and debris removal. Also, any rain the gets blown in the entrance just drips out the bottom.

  • I had to come back to this. I’ve been toying with this idea for quite a while. My idea is to put two rows of slates in a one inch shim with bee space between them. The idea is that this would solve the problem of burr comb while lowering congestion and drafts even more.

    I’ve never gotten around to actually building one to try it but it seems feasible.

  • You mention a 3/8 gap between the bottom of the frames and the slats. If I’m doing a screen below the slats, how much distance do I give the bees below the slats? Hopefully I’m understanding how it works. Thank you.

  • Certainly but not for a day or two; I’m recovering from rather complicated surgery. I hope to be a bit more active in a week or so.

  • No problem, John; I’m still not mobile but remembered I’d already taken the photos! The slats are loose for the moment, I’ll lock them in position (or perhaps allow the bees to do so!) when I can position them accurately below the frames that will hang over them so that mites can drop through unimpeded. Thanks for posting them Rusty!

  • I built 4 slatted racks and installed them last fall. An issue that evolved over winter was their interference with mite counts. It wasn’t until doing an oxalic acid treatment that the front board became an issue. I very quickly realized it would prevent some portion of mites (30% in a Warre Hive) from reaching the counting board. I like “data” so was never fully pleased with getting partial-results when doing mite counts after treatments. I will continue using them but plan to replace them with new racks absent of the front board. I’m not convinced the front board is entirely necessary in any event. Winter entrances are already reduced – mine are down to 1″ X 3/8″. That size reduction alone reduces wind. Add the slatted racks and you get further wind blockage. Bees in my hives wintered at the very top of the hives clustered clinging to quilts – the warmest spot in the hives. They were so far away from the lower entrance I can not see the addition of the 4″ board making any difference to the bees. My assessment is that part of a slatted rack is not needed. Better is having a rack that does not interfere with monitoring mites.

  • Exactly my thinking; also, I will be making certain that the rack slats line up accurately below the brood frames.

  • Hello all,

    On the subject of mites, my mentor came back from a show last summer with a brilliant contraption, a set of copper tubing shaped and brased to fit onto a gas burner and accept a dosage of oxalic acid. Takes about 15 seconds and done. They get a bloody good dose too without having to seal up the openings as with the tablet heaters, also the price is very reasonable. If you’re interested I’ll send you the link.

  • Well, two weeks ago I installed a slatted rack in one of my hives; it was the most populated of the two, having come through the winter in the best shape. I left the other colony alone and decided to install a rack in that one when it had built up a bit and the time came to carry out an artificial swarm. Well, that time came yesterday! Despite having plenty of space and a super, the smaller colony decided to build queen cells whilst the really busy and prolific colony, which has both a super and a slatted rack, hasn’t bothered! Not a conclusive experiment, I know, but it works for me so far!

  • Hello….raising my hand here to say yes, I installed my slatted bottom board upside down! What a lesson this is. On this new 3-week-old hive I now have a few inches of pretty heavily built comb under my bottom deep box that contains the original nuc. The colony is building down and into the open space towards the slatted board. I pulled this box to stack a new one under it but can not flip the boxes due to the excessive build underneath. I placed the new deep on topping of the original a week ago and they are building up into it but continue to build below the bottom box as well. Question… is it recommended to clean and clear this comb build off the bottom box in order to reverse the brood boxes and also flip the slatted board. At current, I cannot flip the slatted board due to the comb build up. I appreciate any feedback you can provide. Thank you!

    • Kelly,

      I’m not into reversing brood boxes but by all means, remove the excess comb and flip the slatted rack. These hives are designed so you can easily inspect and move frames if necessary, but you can’t do any of that the way it is now. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to fix.

  • Came to the site the other day looking up something about water, and an hour later I surfaced here. Always a fun and educational journey.

    Along the way, I traveled thru posts about tipping hives. When I started out, I was actually given a reason for it, that it would help with drainage. I didn’t know anything about internal moisture in hives, but we can have pretty intense wind-driven rain storms, so it made sense to me. I admit I am an anal person who not only verified a 2-3 degree forward tilt to my concrete block hive stands, I also used my iPhone to identify the optimal, year-round, average sunrise-facing direction for the opening. My hives are set up on a rocky outcropping, so the tilt part was pretty tedious (the 2nd hive stand didn’t take nearly as long as the first one – I was tired by then and decided it was close enough).

    Turns out that specific direction was the most inconvenient for human access to the hives. So this winter when I rebuilt a stand – adding a gravel bed underneath – I pointed it roughly south and called it good. I had left a dead-out hive in place until the rebuild, and when dismantling, I noticed that the slatted rack had accumulated a small amount of standing water on the front board. Scratching my head, I thought maybe that part was supposed to be in the back because obviously, a tilted hive directs water to the front. So I reversed the board.

    Sigh. Now it all makes more sense. Guess I’ll be re-arranging again.

  • I’m in the US, in Eastern Connecticut. I just got slatted racks in today because from what I’ve researched they help give the hive a better chance to make it through the winter. I lost all three of my hives last winter. This year I’m going all out. I source mostly from Better Bee as they’re close and delivery is usually in just a few days.

    I’ve got slatted racks, Ultimate hive outer covers (R 6.5), and outer hive wraps that cover 2 deeps and a medium super. I plan on leaving a full super without a queen excluder on top of the standard two deeps just to be sure they have resources. I also have two nucs in a double-deep that look like they’re going to overwinter. Of course, one side is stronger than the other, and I may bolster the weak side with a frame from my booming full hive. I made a split 5/5 medium super to add 5 frames of honey from my other hives on top of the two nuc deeps right before they winter over.

    I’m also on top of mite treatment, probably a contributing factor in last winter’s losses along with the screwy weather. I mite check on a regular basis (monthly) and treat in accordance with results. I have a good feeling about the future, there’s not a whole lot more I can do at this point.

    • Kirk,

      Sounds like you’re on top of things. Be sure to check for moisture accumulation, too, especially when using a hive wrap.

  • I got my order late Saturday, unpacked stuff, and checked things out. Sunday the rain had stopped and it was sunny and mild. I got out the primer and went to work. Used up the last of my ValSpar bonding primer. Didn’t get everything done…

    Today I went out and was deciding on color coat colors. Looked at my slatted racks… Decided to try one out on a deep with frames but no bees, wanting to see how things lined up. Hmmm….. Something’s not right here, things aren’t lining up the way they should…

    Well, I count the bars on my slatted racks, and guess what? There’s only nine of them… And I’ve already primed them… Check my order, yep, I ordered ten frame slatted racks. Even more confusing, they used the same stock photo for both the nine and ten frame windows on their web site.

    I send an email with pics and some text letting them know I’ll be calling as it’ll be a lot easier to straighten things out over the phone than through text or email.

    Long story short, Better Bee is sending me the proper ten slat frames and a call tag for the wrong ones. Since they don’t offer them primed I’m also getting a $25 gift certificate for my “time and materials” so to speak. If anyone uses nine frame hives, these may end up in the “Bargain Barn”.

    Also, the Ultimate Hive Cover has extra ventilation around the edges but I will keep an eye out for any moisture issues. Thanks for the reminder as I’ve not used hive wrap before.

  • Hi Rusty,

    Your blog is a great resource for newbees like myself. Thank you!

    Slatted racks have just hit my radar and I’m going to give it a try next year. I use a ProVape 110. Would you recommend drilling the hole in the slatted rack or the bottom board to apply the OA treatment?

    • Bonnie,

      I think it would depend on your set-up. It probably doesn’t matter from a distribution point of view, so you could go either way. Someone out there may have an opinion on this.

  • Hello Rusty, from Nashville, Tn. I’ve been building and using slatted racks for a few years and currently have them on all my 10 framers and most nucs. I think I have built about 50 to date and fully respect their value to the hobby beekeeper. This spring I am testing a new yard with all 8 framers and will bee building 12 slatted racks for them as well. It is so nice to read of our similar practices on so many levels…please keep up the wonderful teaching, Mick’s Bees

  • Hi Rusty,

    Just built a bunch. Thanks for plans found on here. Only concern I have is prior to winter we shim the back of the hive up so any condensation runs to wards the front and down the front. How will the water drain out with the solid wide slat in the front. Has anybody had problems with water pooling on top of this in winter?

    • Since hive condensation will pass down through the slats, do you still need to shim the hive? It seems like the flat part would be less of a problem if the hive were level.

    • I’ve been using slatted racks made by a local bee club member. When I broke down a dead-out last spring, there was indeed water pooled on the slat in front. The hive was tipped slightly forward per beekeeper lore. I thought perhaps I had installed it wrong, so when I rebuilt the hive for an incoming nuc I put the wide slat in the back (later, I ran into this post, and others on whether hives should be level or not; I will be re-rebuilding again.)
      Drilling holes in it partially cancels the advertised advantages of cutting down on light and turbulence, but probably not a lot. Alternately, you could shim the *front* of the hive, to force any water to the back, whereas Rusty notes, it will drip out thru the slats anyway.

      Oh, and yes, when I first installed the racks, I put one of them upside down. The way our guy builds them this results in a side-to-side back entrance. Still took me a few days to figure out why “one of these hives is not like the others” and fix it.

      I keep hoping I’ll run out of mistakes; pretty sure I have a long way to go.

      • Great thanks for the reply. I’ve been told by others that use them in the same cold climate we have in Southern Ontario is just to make sure the winter wrap has the seam from the front entrance up to the upper entrance and it will act like a chimney removing most condensation out the upper entrance. They said they had no problems yet with moisture buildup on the board and also thought drilling a few small 3/16 holes is a good idea. Bees may plug with propolis anyway. I don’t use vented bottom boards so water could not run out the back because bottom boards are solid if tipped to the back so will likely avoid that suggestion. Thanks for the input. Bummer about your hive loss.

  • Well we get a ton of snow also and temps down to -25 so we tip them so it doesn’t rain down on them. Guess could drill some holes through that board for water to run out if it did accumulate.

    • I don’t bother with the “apron” as it collects mites that would otherwise drop through. I find the slatted rack shifts the nest up just enough to avoid the draught from the entrance whilst mites and condensation drop out through the mesh floor.

  • Rusty,

    This makes a lot of sense to me since observing that bees move up the hive in the wintertime. My question – why are the slats 3/4″ deep and not closer to the 2-1/2″ depth of the slat box? Seems like you’d want the slats the full depth for more surface for bees to hang out and move from entrance to brood box?

    • Tony,

      For one thing, I think deep slats would interfere with efficient airflow, especially in the summer months. Second, more surface area would not make it easier for the bees to cluster. They do best by holding onto each other, not holding onto a wooden board. My bees love to cluster under there in summer, I think because conditions are just right. You are certainly welcome to build them differently if you think it would be better.

  • Hi Rusty, I built some slatted racks based on Waddington’s plans. However, there’s one incorrect measurement that I’d like to submit to him to correct. How can I get in touch with him directly (and/or Tim Trudel)?

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