Apiary Architecture
BUILD YOUR APIARY
Plan your full colony setup from foundation to extraction. Calculate true minimum vs. recommended budgets.
1612 Hives
Minimum Budget
$744
Unassembled unassembled kits, budget cotton suit.
Recommended Budget
$1,006
Assembled pine/cypress, 3-layer ventilated suit, stainless smoker.
Optional Upgrades
+$887
Radial honey extractor + solar hive scales.
Complete Equipment Checklist for 2 Hives
| Component | Quantity | Role in Apiary | Type / Upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Brood Boxes (9-5/8") | 4 Units | Colony nursery & winter cluster honey stores | Langstroth 10 Frame Select Pine |
| Medium Honey Supers (6-5/8") | 4 Units | Harvestable surplus honey storage | 10 Frame with Assembled Frames |
| Assembled Wooden Frames | 80 Frames | Comb foundation for brood rearing & honey | Rite-Cell Beeswax Coated Food-Grade Plastic |
| Screened Bottom Boards + Mite Trays | 2 Units | Summer ventilation and Varroa monitoring | Heavy Cypress Base |
| Metal Telescoping Outer Covers | 2 Units | Weather defense against rain and snow load | Galvanized Steel Cap |
| Queen Excluders | 2 Units | Prevents queen from laying in honey supers | Smooth Zinc Coated Wire Grid |