Observation Bee Hive Holds 12 Medium Frames with Double-side Plexi glass doors Fully Assembled FRAMES NOT INCLUDED

Nicely made. Bought this hive late in Fall. I will use in spring. More information then.

Our local library was having a reading program and needed someone to bring honeybees and explain how they work together in order for their hive to operate and survive. So my husband ended up being the beekeeper who got asked, but he didn't have an observation hive to take. We ended up ordering this as soon as we found it and it arrived in plenty of time. Though it did take a little bit of time for us to figure out what screws we were supposed to remove in order to open it. It turned out to be the screws holding the small wooden pieces that are latches to hold the solid door closed. Once we realized that, we were able to slide some frames into it. Though we did realize later that it would benefit to have some handles on it so it can be carried easier. Overall this observation hive is great! Thank you!

When it comes to observation hives, there aren't a lot of reputable choices out there.I decided to give this hive company a try even though they had zero reviews here on Amazon.I felt confident buying it as they are selling for a fraction of the cost of my other Observation hives that begin at over eight hundred dollars.What I like:1) hive frames are three deep, so there is a middle frame that is not exposed to outside temps and the resident bees can insulate the center frame from heat or cold as needed.2) Plexi-glass is included and already mounted to the unit. (other companies require you to glaze the hive yourself at an extra fee).3) Hive top feeder openings are off to the sides and not "centered". If they leak, they will not be leaking down onto the cluster/brood. The top feeder openings can handle a metal small-mouth mason jar lit, but it's a VERY tight fit.4) The entrance is not pre-cut, so the buyer is at liberty to position the hive entrance wherever you want to, high or low. And you will also be able to select your entrance size. I put a 3/4" entrance in one and a 1.25 diameter entrance in another.5) Good stock, solid mount. The ends of the hive are doubled up with 3/4 inch stock, resulting in a 1.5" thickness. these sides can be used to support the finished weight of a full hive.6) There is a bottom opening for IPM (integrated pest management) and it has a removable plastic sheet that is easily serviced.What I think could use improvement:If you look at the photos, you'll note that there is very little space beneath the frame bottom bars. I would much prefer to see a space beneath the lowest frames of at least 1.5" so we can observe all bottom board activity. As is, you can see nothing but the face of the frame.Top feeder openings are too tight. Some quart mason jar lids will not fit the hole. If you purchase the Bee Bar plastic mason jar lids, they will be too large by 1/8". It would be great if two mason jar lids were part of this kit.I have both the deep and medium frame versions of this hive. When I ordered the deep frame version, I expected it to also have four levels of 3-frames each, but the deep frame version is just three levels, making it a 9-frame hive.Bee-space was good, but as mentioned, I'd like more open space above the top of the frames and below the bottom row. Maybe future versions may show these improvements.I definitely recommend these hives and will be watching for future versions. At this price, they can't be beat. Hives with frames in pairs instead of three just don't do as well. These hives have saved me a lot of work and I enjoyed modifying them to suit my personal needs. Thank you for an excellent product.