The Langstroth Hive is a removable-frame bee hive used for commercial honey production across Kenya. It is the standard hive for commercial beekeeping operations, cooperatives, and county government apiary programmes. Frames are interchangeable with all standard Langstroth processing equipment including honey extractors, queen excluders, and feeders.
What Is the Langstroth Hive?
The Langstroth Hive is a vertically stacked, removable-frame bee hive used across every stage of commercial beekeeping in Kenya. It works by housing the bee colony in a brood box fitted with hanging frames, with additional honey super boxes stacked on top during the honey flow. The removable frame design allows beekeepers to inspect, harvest, and manage colonies without destroying the comb. It is compatible with a Metallic Queen Excluder to separate the brood zone from the honey super, and frames spin directly in a 3-Frame Honey Extractor Machine or 6-Frame Honey Extractor Machine. For a traditional low-cost alternative, see the Kenya Top Bar Bee Hive.
What Is the Price of the Langstroth Hive in Kenya?
The Langstroth Hive is priced at KSh 5,500 at Urban Beekeepers in Nairobi. In stock ā no lead time. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Nationwide delivery available to all major towns. Payment accepted via M-Pesa and card. Urban Beekeepers takes bulk orders. Call 0797 764 747 or message via WhatsApp to discuss.
š¬ Order Now on WhatsApp ā KSh 5,500
Key Features and Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | Wood (treated cypress or pine) |
| Frame Capacity | 10 Langstroth frames per box |
| What’s Included | Brood box, 10 frames, crown board, roof |
| Compatible Accessories | Queen excluders, honey supers, feeders, frame grips |
| Hive Type | Vertical stacked Langstroth |
| Suitable Scale | 5 to 50 or more hives per apiary |
| Compatible Bees | Apis mellifera (all varieties common to Kenya) |
| Price | KSh 5,500 |
Who Needs the Langstroth Hive?
- Commercial Honey Farmers: Farmers managing 5 or more hives who need a standardised, high-yield hive system compatible with commercial extraction equipment and honey processing workflows.
- Community Based Organisations: CBOs running income-generating beekeeping projects who need a durable, widely understood hive type that members can inspect, manage, and harvest from with basic training.
- County Governments and NGOs: Agricultural departments and development organisations equipping farmer groups with standardised hive units for training apiaries and beneficiary distribution programmes.
- SACCO-Linked Farmer Groups: Groups pooling resources to purchase hives for members, where equipment interchangeability across members’ apiaries is important for shared tools and processing equipment.
How to Use the Langstroth Hive
- Install your hive on a stand. Place the Langstroth Hive on a Metallic Hive Stand to elevate it off the ground. This protects against ants, termites, and waterlogging. Face the entrance away from prevailing winds.
- Fit foundation sheets. Install Wax Sheets into each frame before introducing a colony. Foundation guides bees to build straight, uniform comb that fits the extractor.
- Introduce your colony. Transfer a nucleus colony or captured swarm into the brood box. Ensure the queen is present. Close the hive and allow the colony to settle for 48 hours before inspecting.
- Inspect regularly. Open the hive every 10 to 14 days using a Bee Smoker to calm bees. Check for the queen, brood pattern, honey stores, and signs of disease or swarming.
- Add a honey super at peak flow. When the brood box frames are 80 percent filled, fit a Queen Excluder and stack a honey super on top. Harvest when super frames are capped.
Care and Maintenance
Proper care extends the working life of your Langstroth Hive and keeps it performing effectively season after season.
- Inspect all wooden joints and the roof annually for cracks, rot, or warping. Sand and re-treat damaged timber with beeswax or linseed oil.
- Remove old or blackened brood comb from frames every 2 to 3 years and replace with fresh Wax Sheet foundations. Old comb accumulates disease spores and reduces colony performance.
- Scrape propolis buildup from frame rests, edges, and the crown board with a hive tool at each inspection. Excessive propolis makes frame removal difficult and increases the risk of crushing bees.
- Store unused hive boxes with a mesh or sealed cover to prevent wax moth from laying eggs in stored comb. Inspect stored equipment before returning it to service.
Why Buy From Urban Beekeepers?
- In stock ā same-day delivery within Nairobi
- Nationwide delivery to all major towns across Kenya
- Call or WhatsApp: 0797 764 747
- Trusted by commercial farmers, CBOs, and NGOs across Kenya
- M-Pesa and card accepted
Shipping and Delivery
Urban Beekeepers delivers countrywide to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Machakos, Kitengela, Kitui, and all major towns across Kenya. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Call 0797 764 747 to confirm delivery timelines for your location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Langstroth Hive used for in Kenya?
The Langstroth Hive is used for commercial honey production in Kenya. Its removable frame design allows beekeepers to inspect the colony, manage the queen, and harvest honey without destroying comb. It is the standard hive for commercial farmers, cooperatives, county government apiaries, and NGO-supported beekeeping projects.
What is the difference between a Langstroth Hive and a Kenya Top Bar Hive?
The Langstroth Hive uses removable vertical frames in a stacked box system, producing higher honey yields and compatible with commercial extraction equipment. The Kenya Top Bar Bee Hive is a horizontal hive where bees build natural comb from top bars, requiring no extractor. The Langstroth Hive is recommended for operations targeting consistent commercial honey volumes.
What accessories does a Langstroth Hive need?
A Langstroth Hive is most productive when used with a Queen Excluder, Wax Sheet foundations, and a Metallic Hive Stand. For honey harvesting you will need a Bee Smoker, Beekeeping Gloves, and a honey extractor.
Does Urban Beekeepers deliver the Langstroth Hive outside Nairobi?
Urban Beekeepers delivers countrywide to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Machakos, Kitengela, Kitui, and all major towns across Kenya. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Call 0797 764 747 to confirm delivery timelines for your location.
Can I buy multiple Langstroth Hives for a community project?
Yes. Urban Beekeepers takes bulk orders for CBOs, NGOs, county governments, and SACCO groups. Call 0797 764 747 or message via WhatsApp to discuss quantities and delivery.
