What is a Noochii Hive?

People have been harvesting honey since the beginning, whenever that was. Eventually we worked out that it was possible to manage bee colonies and slowly, step by step, we are working out how to provide bees with the conditions they need to not only survive, but to thrive.

The Noochii Hive combines a lot of what we’ve learned so far, and in particular over the last 170-ish years, into a hive that will give the bees a great place to build a strong, healthy colony. And, hopefully, some extra honey to share with us!

While the primary function of the hive is to provide the best possible conditions for the bees, it’s also important that the colony can be checked and cared for easily and with minimal disruption to the bees.

Think of a beehive and you’re probably picturing a neat stack of wooden boxes. This vertical system is proven and works very well, and there are a number of variations of this style of hive in use around the world.

A less common approach is the horizontal hive. Again, there are some variations on this arrangement, like the top bar and long hive, however the core principles are the same. Instead of stacking boxes, these hives consist of a large space extending horizontally, with either frames or top bars for the bees to build their combs from. And the space can easily be reduced in winter when the colony naturally shrinks.

So, back to the question, what is a Noochii Hive?

  • A Noochii Hive is a long or horizontal hive.

  • It has space for up to 30 frames. There are two versions, one for Langstroth frames and one for National frames.

  • Made using Accoya, a modified timber with a 50-year guarantee with no need to treat or paint the hive! That’s not a typo, 50 years. You can paint it if you’d like though!

  • The hive is very well insulated which makes getting through winter a bit easier for the colony. A stronger over-wintered colony will be more productive in the summer.

  • There is a mesh floor with 3 Varroa inspection trays that can be closed off in winter.

  • 3 Perspex crownboards giving wall-to-wall visibility of the colony without actually opening it.

  • 8 round entrances, 4 near each end with landing boards. These are more easily defended and quick to seal with a cork for winter or open in spring.

  • 2 observation windows, just for being nosey and it’s great fun to show visitors!

  • Space for feeders above the crownboards. And there’s plenty of space for frame feeders too.

  • Designed at a height to make beekeeping easier on your back and more accessible for wheelchair users.

  • Gas struts make opening the hive lid easier and safer.

  • Powder coated hairpin legs are low maintenance and put the hive at a comfortable working height. They also look great!

  • A divider board is used to reduce the space in winter and help keep the colony warm.

  • Queen excluders are not needed for long hives. The queen naturally lays at the end of the hive closest to the entrance, and the workers build up stores in the rest of the hive.