I'm not sure what this DGEwise website is, but Hoover Hives can only be bought through https://galenafarms.com and their amazon storefront.
For $199 on amazon, I got 2 10 frame deeps and a super with a inner cover, telescoping lid, excluder and a solid base and 10 frames with foundations for each box. I also got a bee escape, mouse guard and nails ( which where not listed, so a pleasant surprise). All was unassembled and everything that wasn't plastic, metal or the frames was all treated with an extremely heavy coat of beeswax. The dovetail joints are a tight fit especially with the excess beeswax on it (the first brood box was very hard to get together for some reason, its together and nailed but feels like there is some extra gap in the joints) but the other deep and the super went together pretty smooth. But yea, if your not buying it from Galena Farms or from their storefront on amazon, its probably a scam. A single box with frames and foundations runs around $60.00 unassembled.
Just my opinion.
Buyer beware when using the dgewise.com website for ordering Hoover bee hives. Granted, price is hard to believe. But a little background checking made me immediately back out of the deal. The company has a disturbing history. Let us know on the forum if anyone has had a good experience with purchasing these hives.
I can't believe the price of the Hoover Hive from DGEWISE.com.
Unless I am mistaken, an 8 frame, 2 deep, 1 medium, telescopic top, inner cover, bottom board, queen excluder, entrance reducer, mouse guard, and with 24 frames and plastic foundations is only $66. AND free shipping. That's a unreal number. The 10 frame kit is only $70. Wow!
It would cost you $197 for the same unpainted pieces locally purchased.
I am blown away. I feel like buying a few just because. I don't need more, but for that price!!!!!
I see the same setup on Amazon for $185. Even at that price, the Hoover Hive is less expensive by a few bucks than what we get locally.
It looks great, Kyle. I love those waxed hives and they really are less expensive. I can't remember if you have an eight frame hive or a ten frame hive. If it's eight frame you will need to get one more eight frame deep brood box. The queen will need more space for laying brood. You won't need the super until mid-summer, if that.
The nuc will come with five drawn frames. There will be three to four frames covered with bees. The bees have to draw out all the rest of the frames.
It takes lots and lots and lots of nectar to draw out so many frames. So it will help a lot if you have a feeder and can make a sugar water solution (1 part water with 1 part sugar). They'll go through a gallon about every three days! So evaluate what kind of feeder you want and stock up on 25 pound bags of sugar. It will probably take until sometime in June for them to draw out them all out.
You want a feeder that holds at least a gallon and is easy to refill. Most of us use a box feeder that sits on top of the inner cover between the inner cover and the outer cover. Some of them come with "rafts" that float on the sugar water but I have found filling them half way with loosely placed straw works better. The bees walk all over the straw sucking up the sugar water and it's very easy to refill. I think it holds more than a gallon.
If you haven't bought your frames yet, I have over a hundred used empty frames. You are welcome to twenty or thirty. You would need to buy foundation, either wax sheets or plastic. Wax sheets are cheaper but they have to be wired in. Bob Allen has a machine that melts the wires into the wax which is the only way to go. I'll get you in touch with him if you go that way.
Hope this helps. Anyone who disagrees with my thoughts is encouraged to share theirs.
Merry Christmas to all!
I splurged a bit and got the wax coated hoover hives. It should be dovetailed.
It's not a bad idea to pop a few nails into the box, even after gluing. But, for sure glue. Time and weather will prove why. Paint the boxes too. Don't paint anything that would be inside the hive however. Paint even the top and bottom edges of the boxes, as weather will eventually cause damage to the wood.
The nails used would be best if they were stainless in our wet enviornment, but galvenized work too. 2" or 2 1/4" and about 17 gauge. I personally staple my hives using a Senco air powered staple gun. 1/4" staples and 1 5/8" long for frames, and 2" lomg for boxes. I put about 3 or 4 nails or staples on each end.
If it is truly a dovetail joint, all it needs is good quality outdoor glue. If it is a box joint it will need a few nails or screws.
Does anyone have any recommendations for putting my first hive together to make it secure?
Is there a specific type of screw/how many I should use for the dovetail joints?
Thanks in advance!