8-Frame Wooden Entrance Reducer

The 8-Frame Cypress Wooden Entrance Reducer is a small but essential piece of hive equipment designed to slide into the entrance of the bottom board. It reduces the opening to a smaller size, giving the bees better control of traffic and making the colony easier to defend. This reducer is built from durable cypress wood and made to last, providing years of dependable use in any hive setup.

Key Features and Benefits

• Cypress construction: Made from rot-resistant cypress for long-lasting use.
• Adjustable entrance size: Reduces the main hive entrance to match colony strength.
• Research-based design: Modeled after Tom Seeley’s studies on natural hive preferences.
• Colony protection: Helps bees defend against pests and robbing bees.
• Feeder compatible: Sized to fit our stepped entrance feeder while allowing bee access.
• Included in kits: Standard component of our 8-Frame Beekeeping Kits.

Detailed Description

This 8-Frame Wooden Entrance Reducer is made from high-quality cypress wood, known for its rot resistance and outdoor durability. It fits snugly into the entrance slot of an 8-frame bottom board, allowing beekeepers to control the hive’s entry size based on the colony’s population and the season.

Entrance reducers are especially useful for new or small colonies, where a smaller entrance allows bees to more easily defend against pests, robbing bees, and wasps. As the colony grows, the reducer can be removed or flipped to increase airflow and access.

Using the research of Tom Seeley, this entrance reducer is designed to closely match the natural entrance size preferred by wild honey bees. This helps the colony regulate airflow, temperature, and defense—just as bees would in nature.

The reducer also includes a precisely measured gap to accommodate our stepped entrance feeder, allowing feeding access while maintaining an optimal entrance size for the bees.

Each reducer is included in our 8- frame Beekeeping kits, but can also be purchased separately for additional hives or replacements.

Learn more about When Do I Add or Remove an Entrance Reducer on our blog.

Check out our other 8 Frame Hive Parts available at our store.