Dadant US Beehive assembled

01 · DADANT US, NOT DADANT BLATT

The same surname, two hives that do not mix

“Dadant” does not name a single size. Dadant US — known in Spain as the Spanish measure — and Dadant Blatt — what is simply called Dadant in France — have different boxes and different frames, and a frame from one will not rest in the other. This is Dadant US: 508 × 424 mm outside and 464 × 380 mm inside, with a 22 mm wall. If you already own equipment, compare those figures with what is in your apiary before ordering; and if you work in the French format, this is not your hive.

02 · WHY 10 BELOW AND 8 ABOVE

Fewer frames go in the super on purpose

The brood box comes with 10 wired frames and the super with 8 straight-sided, and that is not an oversight in the kit: in Dadant it is common practice to run the super with fewer frames than it holds. Given more space between them, the bees draw the comb outwards and it comes fatter, so the same super yields more honey per frame and, above all, uncaps far faster — the knife runs clean through comb that stands proud of the bar. It is not done in the brood box: there you want the exact bee space, and all ten go in.

03 · WHAT IT IS AND IS NOT

Well-dimensioned field equipment, not cabinetmaking

This is an entry-price hive, and it is worth buying it knowing that: the dimensions are correct and the assembly stands up to work, but the finish is functional — production stapling and jointing, not fine joinery. For migratory work and for growing your numbers it is exactly what is needed; if you want a carefully finished hive for display or a garden, the catalogue has higher grades. The crown board is the migratory type, which insulates better on long runs and in heat, and the roof is clad in galvanised sheet.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

The frames are included — ten in the brood box and eight in the super — but they arrive untensioned and without foundation: tension the wire, fit the sheet and embed it, with whatever wax thickness and origin you prefer. It has no side handles and no latches between super and brood box: if you are loading a lorry, those fasteners are bought separately. The screened floor is an option chosen when ordering, not an accessory added later.