{"product_id":"bearsville-bees-layens-14-frame-hive","title":"Bearsville Bees Layens 14-Frame Hive","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA complete horizontal hive built for beekeepers who would rather inspect than lift.\u003c\/b\u003e The Bearsville Bees Layens 14-Frame Hive uses deep horizontal frames in a single long box, so there are no heavy honey supers to wrestle off during inspections. It arrives with everything you need to install bees — hive body, foundation frames, and a follower board — ready to populate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e14 deep Layens frames\u003c\/b\u003e in a single horizontal box — twice the depth of a Langstroth deep\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTrue-to-nature frame geometry\u003c\/b\u003e — mimics the comb dimensions found in tree hollows, what bees naturally want to build\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eOne-story horizontal layout\u003c\/b\u003e — inspect frame-by-frame without breaking down a stack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eComes complete\u003c\/b\u003e — hive body, ready-to-use foundation frames, and one follower board included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHand-built in West Virginia\u003c\/b\u003e by Bearsville Bees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDesigned for fewer hive disturbances\u003c\/b\u003e — Layens hives are managed with significantly fewer interventions than vertical Langstroth setups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow it works\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Layens design works the opposite way from a stacked Langstroth. Instead of adding supers vertically as the colony grows, you give the bees a long horizontal box with deep frames. The colony expands sideways into empty frames as needed, and the follower board lets you contain a small colony to a smaller workable space until it grows. At inspection, you lift the lid and work frame-by-frame across the top — no boxes to set aside, no supers to lift off, no comb cracks to break between boxes. The maximum weight you'll lift is about 10 lb — a single fully filled honey frame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBefore you order\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eIn stock at Blythewood Bee Company\u003c\/b\u003e — one unit available now, no wait.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eShips by freight truck.\u003c\/b\u003e Average freight cost runs $325–$400 to a commercial address without a lift gate. Residential delivery with a lift gate adds $150. Tip: arrange delivery to a local small business with a forklift and pick it up there.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLayens frames are not compatible with standard Langstroth equipment\u003c\/b\u003e — the deeper frame won't fit a Langstroth box, and a Langstroth deep frame won't fit a Layens box. Plan accordingly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHoney extraction\u003c\/b\u003e — most standard extractors won't accommodate full-depth Layens frames. Many Layens beekeepers crush-and-strain or use a specialty extractor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis is a complete hive without legs. Legs or a stand are not included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePairs Well With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/blythewoodbeecompany.com\/products\/bee-smart-3-season-ultimate-hive-top-feeder\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHive Top Feeder\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e — for spring feeding during buildup if your local nectar flow is slow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/blythewoodbeecompany.com\/products\/buzz-bags-nuc-transport-bag\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBuzz Bag Nuc Transport Bag\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e — for transporting your starter nucleus to install in the hive.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFrame count:\u003c\/b\u003e 14 deep Layens frames\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFrame depth:\u003c\/b\u003e Approximately 13\" wide × 16\" deep (twice a Langstroth deep)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHive body footprint:\u003c\/b\u003e Approximately 19\" tall × 16\" wide × 32\" long\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/b\u003e Hive body, foundation frames, one follower board\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eNot included:\u003c\/b\u003e Stand or legs, bees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMaker:\u003c\/b\u003e Bearsville Bees, Parkersburg, WV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eShipping:\u003c\/b\u003e Freight truck only\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow is a Layens different from a Langstroth?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Langstroth grows vertically with stacked boxes. A Layens grows horizontally in a single long box with deeper frames. Beekeepers who want less heavy lifting, fewer hive disturbances, and a hive that more closely mimics natural tree-hollow comb often prefer the Layens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use my Langstroth frames in this hive?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Layens frames are significantly deeper than Langstroth deeps, and the box width is different too. Plan to use Layens frames only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I harvest honey from a Layens?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost standard radial honey extractors won't take a full-depth Layens frame. Common approaches: crush-and-strain (destroy the comb and strain the honey), use a specialty Layens-compatible extractor, or split the frame into pieces that fit a standard extractor. Most Layens beekeepers harvest once a year in fall after the last brood emerges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is shipping so expensive?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a large, heavy, fully-assembled hive that won't fit in a standard parcel carrier (UPS, FedEx ground) box, so it ships LTL freight. The freight cost depends on your delivery address, lift-gate requirement, and proximity to a freight terminal. We can quote your exact freight cost before you commit — just ask.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo I need a stand?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hive ships without legs or a stand. Most Layens beekeepers build a simple wooden stand or set the hive on cinderblocks at a comfortable working height (typically 18–24\" off the ground).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bearsville Bees","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41199551807524,"sku":"210000002882","price":649.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0089\/5375\/7732\/files\/attachment-5.jpg?v=1775106989","url":"https:\/\/blythewoodbeecompany.com\/products\/bearsville-bees-layens-14-frame-hive","provider":"Blythewood Bee Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}