HiveKeepers frames are installed just like a standard frame. Lightly prime the cassette with beeswax, place it into your honey super, and install during a nectar flow for best results. The bees will then begin using the cassette naturally over time.
When you first open your HiveKeepers frames, the goal is simple, get them into the hive in a way that the bees will accept and start using.
There are three steps to get right.
1. Prepare the cassette surface
Before placing the frame in the hive, rub a small amount of hard beeswax across the cassette surface.
You don’t need to coat it heavily, just a light rub is enough. This gives the bees a familiar scent and texture, helping them recognise it as a space worth using.
2. Install the frame
Place the HiveKeepers frame into your honey super exactly as you would a standard frame.
There’s no modification needed. The frame simply replaces a standard frame, so beekeepers can drop it in and be ready to go.
Keep the frames spaced close together rather than spread out. This helps prevent the bees from building excess or irregular comb outside the cassette.
3. Install at the right time
For best results, install the frames during a nectar flow.
This is when bees are actively collecting and storing nectar, and they are far more likely to draw out and fill the cassette quickly. If there’s no active flow, they may ignore it for a period of time, which is completely normal.
What to expect after installation
Bees may take a little time to start using the cassette. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong.
Once they commit, they will draw it out and begin filling it just like any other frame.
Bees do tend to prefer natural materials, and traditional wooden frames work extremely well. However, during a strong nectar flow, bees will readily use plastic frames, especially when they’ve been primed with beeswax.
That’s it.
No complex setup, no changes to your hive, just a simple swap and letting the bees take over.
👉 Action article
Add links to:
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“prime the cassette with beeswax”
👉 What Do the Bees Think of HiveKeepers Frames -
“install during a nectar flow”
👉 When to Harvest Honey -
“begin using the cassette naturally”
👉 Understanding the Cassette System
