10 Frame Slatted Rack
A slatted rack is a thin framed insert that sits between the bottom board and the brood chamber. First used around 1900, it opens space below the bottom box — room for bees to cluster, better airflow, and somewhere for the queen to lay lower on the comb. Northern beekeepers value it for overwintering and swarm control. Ships assembled, for 10-frame equipment.
Features
- Assembled 10-frame slatted rack
- Opens clustering and ventilation space under the brood nest
- Lets the queen lay lower on the bottom-box combs
- Helps reduce the congestion that can trigger swarming
- Slats align with the frames, so it works alongside a screened bottom board or mite trap
How it works in real life
Set the slatted rack directly on the bottom board with the brood box on top. The open slats give bees room to cluster off the floor and improve airflow up through the nest, which helps the colony regulate heat and humidity in summer and winter alike. With less congestion at the entrance, the queen tends to lay further down the combs and the colony is a little less swarm-prone. Because the slats run in line with the frames, the rack pairs cleanly with a screened bottom board for ventilation and mite monitoring.
Before you order
This is the 10-frame size and ships assembled — set it in place and add your brood box. It's a seasonal management aid, most valued for overwintering and swarm control in cooler climates.
Pairs Well With
- Screened Bottom Board with Insert — pairs with the rack for airflow and mite counts
- Solid Bottom Board — the floor the rack sits on
- Entrance Reducers — manage the entrance through the seasons
Specifications
- Configuration: 10-frame Langstroth
- Placement: between bottom board and brood chamber
- Assembly: ships assembled
FAQ
What does a slatted rack do?
It adds clustering and ventilation space under the brood nest, lets the queen lay lower, and helps reduce swarm-triggering congestion.
Where does it go?
Between the bottom board and the first brood box.
Does it fit 8-frame hives?
This is the 10-frame size.
Is it assembled?
Yes — it ships assembled and ready to install.
