Product Overview
Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit
1-1/4-inch feeding clearance for thicker fondant during cold-weather feeding
The Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit combines an assembled 1-1/4-inch feeding shim with HiveAlive fondant for supplemental solid feeding during cold weather. Compared with Lappe's Bee Supply standard 3/4-inch feeding shim, the Super Tall version provides an additional 1/2 inch of vertical clearance, making it the better fit when thicker fondant needs more room above the brood frames.
Choose the 5-, 8-, or 10-frame configuration that matches your hive equipment. The kit supplies the corresponding Super Tall Shim and fondant; it is not a complete hive and does not include a deep brood box or frames.
At a Glance
- Product: Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit
- SKU: WNTS-2359
- Available configurations: 5-frame, 8-frame, and 10-frame
- Shim clearance: 1-1/4 inches
- Shim assembly: Assembled
- Shim material: Pine
- Shim finish: Unfinished
- Feed: HiveAlive fondant
- Primary use: Supplemental solid feeding during cold weather
Choose the Correct Kit
| Configuration | Super Tall Shim Size | HiveAlive Fondant Included |
| 5-Frame | 20" L × 9-5/16" W × 1-1/4" H | One 3.5 lb fondant patty |
| 8-Frame | 20" L × 14" W × 1-1/4" H | Two 5 lb fondant patties |
| 10-Frame | 20" L × 16-3/16" W × 1-1/4" H | Two 5 lb fondant patties |
Select the configuration that matches the outside dimensions of your hive equipment using the measurements in the table above. Each assembled Super Tall Shim provides 1-1/4 inches of feeding clearance. Compatible existing hive equipment is required and is not included with the kit.
The included fondant quantity is matched to the kit configuration. Lappe's Bee Supply pairs the smaller 5-frame setup with one 3.5 lb fondant patty, while the larger 8- and 10-frame setups include two 5 lb patties for a total of 10 lb.
Why Use a 1-1/4-Inch Super Tall Shim?
The additional clearance is especially useful when working with thicker fondant. Lappe's Bee Supply has found that the extra room can make the difference between placing the feed naturally and having to flatten or compress it simply to close the hive.
The extra space is useful as feeding clearance; it does not need to be completely filled with fondant.
What Is Included?
- One assembled Super Tall Bee Hive Shim in the selected 5-, 8-, or 10-frame configuration
- The corresponding HiveAlive fondant quantity shown in the configuration table above
Not included: deep brood box, frames, complete hive equipment, or additional fondant that may be needed later.
How to Set Up the Winter Feeding Kit
- Confirm that the selected Super Tall Shim matches your 5-, 8-, or 10-frame hive equipment.
- Inspect the shim and confirm that it is structurally sound and sits properly with the hive equipment.
- Place the shim above the brood area to create the additional feeding clearance.
- Position the fondant above the brood frames where the winter cluster can reach it as directly as practical.
- Restore the upper hive components and confirm that they seat normally without significant unintended gaps.
- Monitor the amount and accessibility of the fondant during winter and replenish it when colony needs warrant additional feed.
About the Included HiveAlive Fondant
The included HiveAlive fondant patties are prepared and ready to use. Following HiveAlive's feeding instructions, keep the fondant in its plastic wrapper and cut a 3-inch (8 cm) opening, approximately the size of the HiveAlive logo, in the front of the packet. Place the opening directly over the brood frames so the bees can access the fondant. Repeat as needed.
Important: Do not completely remove the plastic wrapper. Keeping most of the wrapper in place helps prevent the fondant from drying out.
Storage: Before use, store the fondant in a dark, dry place. According to the storage guidance printed on the HiveAlive product packaging, the optimum storage temperature is 50°F to 68°F (10°C to 20°C).
HiveAlive Fondant Ingredients
According to HiveAlive's product information, the fondant contains: Sugar (sucrose), sugar syrup, dried seaweed meal (Fucaceae), water, thyme, lecithin, lemongrass oil, dextrose, hydrolyzed yeast (source of alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine), vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6, biotin, niacinamide, and D-panthenol.
GMO information: HiveAlive states that it does not use GMO ingredients.
Lappe's Bee Supply Apiary Note: Accessibility Matters More Than Filling the Space
When Lappe's Bee Supply uses supplemental winter feed, the priority is not filling every available inch of the shim. The priority is keeping an appropriate amount of feed reasonably accessible to the cluster.
During extended cold weather, bees may have difficulty moving across the hive to reach food farther away. A colony can therefore have food elsewhere in the hive while the winter cluster has difficulty reaching it. When checking a winter feeding setup, consider where the cluster is in relation to the feed, not simply how much food remains somewhere in the hive.
When Is This Kit Useful?
The Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit is intended for colonies that need supplemental solid feed during cold weather and for feeding situations where thicker fondant benefits from additional clearance above the brood frames.
It can be particularly useful when:
- the colony needs supplemental solid feed during cold weather;
- thicker fondant requires more room than a shorter feeding shim provides;
- you want a defined feeding space above the brood area; and
- you are prepared to monitor the remaining feed and replenish it according to colony need.
The kit should not be treated as something every colony automatically requires throughout winter. Supplemental feeding needs vary with the individual colony and the food it can actually access.
Super Tall Shim vs. Lappe's Bee Supply Standard Feeding Shim
| Feature | Super Tall Shim | Standard Feeding Shim |
| Vertical clearance | 1-1/4 inches | 3/4 inch |
| Difference | Provides an additional 1/2 inch of clearance | Shorter feeding space |
| Practical consideration | More flexibility for thicker fondant | Suitable when the additional Super Tall clearance is not needed |
Choose the Super Tall configuration when thicker fondant benefits from the extra vertical space. If you already have feed and only need the taller wooden component, the assembled Super Tall Bee Hive Shim is available separately.
Winter Monitoring and What to Expect
There is no universal number of days or weeks that the included fondant will last. Consumption varies by colony and conditions, so monitor the amount of feed remaining and whether the cluster can readily reach it rather than relying on a predetermined refill schedule.
If fondant remains but the bees are not using it, consider its location relative to the cluster and current colony and weather conditions before assuming there is a problem with the feed or shim. The Super Tall Shim provides physical feeding clearance; it does not independently change colony behavior or guarantee a biological outcome.
Additional fondant can be purchased separately when needed. See the HiveAlive fondant for nucs and small bee hives or HiveAlive 5 lb Fondant Patties for relevant standalone feed options.
Care and Reuse of the Super Tall Shim
The pine shim is supplied unfinished. If you choose to finish the exterior, use your preferred exterior hive finish while keeping the shim's intended fit and feeding clearance in mind.
Normal staining, wax, propolis buildup, and other cosmetic signs of hive use do not automatically mean the wooden shim needs to be replaced. Lappe's Bee Supply evaluates a used shim primarily by its structural condition and functional fit.
Remove buildup when it begins to interfere with fit. Inspect the shim for significant warping, cracked or broken wood, loose or separated joints, deterioration, or distortion that prevents surrounding hive equipment from seating normally.
If cleanup or a minor repair can reliably return the shim to sound, proper-fitting condition without compromising its intended clearance, it can remain in service. Replace it when structural damage or distortion prevents reliable fit or function. There is no fixed number of seasons that determines replacement.
More Winter Feeding Resources
For more information about supplemental feed, winter food accessibility, and cold-weather feeding decisions, read Winter Feeding Honeybees: A Detailed Guide for Beekeepers.
You can also browse Winter Bee Feed & Feeding Supplies for additional winter feeding products and options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit should I choose?
Choose the 5-, 8-, or 10-frame configuration that matches your hive equipment. To confirm physical fit, compare your equipment with the shim's outside dimensions: 5-frame — 20" L × 9-5/16" W; 8-frame — 20" L × 14" W; 10-frame — 20" L × 16-3/16" W. Each Super Tall Shim provides 1-1/4 inches of feeding clearance.
What comes with each configuration?
The 5-frame kit includes one assembled 1-1/4-inch Super Tall Shim and one 3.5 lb fondant patty. The 8-frame and 10-frame kits each include one corresponding assembled 1-1/4-inch Super Tall Shim and two 5 lb fondant patties.
Why choose the 1-1/4-inch Super Tall Shim instead of a 3/4-inch feeding shim?
The 1-1/4-inch Super Tall Shim provides an additional 1/2 inch of vertical clearance. Lappe's Bee Supply finds that the extra room provides useful flexibility with thicker fondant and can reduce the need to flatten or compress the feed simply to seat the hive covers.
Do I need to fill the entire Super Tall Shim with fondant?
No. The extra space is feeding clearance, not a volume that must be filled. Lappe's Bee Supply prioritizes keeping an appropriate amount of feed reasonably accessible to the winter cluster.
How long will the included fondant last?
There is no fixed or guaranteed feeding duration. Fondant consumption varies by colony and conditions, so monitor the remaining accessible feed and replenish it when needed.
Can I reuse the wooden shim next winter?
The wooden shim can remain in service while it is structurally sound, fits properly, and maintains its intended feeding clearance. Normal staining, wax, propolis, and cosmetic wear alone do not determine when it should be replaced.
Does this kit guarantee that my colony will survive winter?
No. The Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit provides supplemental solid feed and feeding clearance. It does not guarantee overwintering success, colony survival, or another biological outcome.
Product Expiration Notice:
Feed products have a defined expiration date and may not have the full shelf life remaining at the time of purchase. If you plan to order feed in advance, we recommend contacting us before hand to confirm the expiration dates of our current inventory. Any product remaining after the expiration date is not eligible for refund or replacement.
