Plastic bottom board ventilated NICOT® for Dadant Blatt and Langstroth hives

After years in the field, you know one of the weak points in any hive is the wooden bottom board. Moisture, time and cleaning take their toll until it rots or warps… and that’s when problems begin.

That’s why this NICOT ventilated base for Dadant Blatt hives is such a great upgrade. Made of food-grade recyclable plastic, it’s tough, lightweight and far more hygienic than traditional wood bases.

It fits both NICOT plastic hive bodies and standard wooden Dadant Blatt hives (25 mm walls), and it’s even compatible with Langstroth or Dadant US bodies. If the body slightly overhangs, even better — that edge acts like a rain guard, protecting the interior.

This is a fully ventilated base with a sanitary mesh floor, ideal for warm climates. Fallen varroa mites drop through the mesh and can’t re-enter the hive. You can even add a bottom tray (sold separately) to monitor mite drop or close ventilation in winter.

The mesh spacing is identical to pollen traps, so it can even be adapted as a bottom pollen trap. Key features include:

• Grooves to insert monitoring trays or pollen baskets
• 16 mm opening with notch to install entrance reducer (sold separately)
• Reinforced flight board with center bar to avoid warping and divide colonies
• Side holes for screws or NICOT clips (optional accessories)
• Smooth, non-porous surface — easy to clean with hot water or a brush
• Customizable: the landing board can be cut every 10 mm

Combine it with an insulated lid and good frames, and you’ve got a hybrid hive with the best of both worlds.

Technical specs:
• Material: food-grade recyclable plastic
• Outer dimensions: 430 × 540 × 45 mm
• Flight board height: 10 mm
• Entrance reducer and tray not included