Product Overview
Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit
Put solid winter feed close to the cluster without adding a full empty hive body
The Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit combines a 3/4-inch-tall assembled wooden feeding shim with prepared HiveAlive fondant for supplemental or emergency winter feeding. The shallow shim creates dedicated space above the frames so fondant can be positioned close to the winter cluster while adding considerably less empty space than a full hive body.
Choose the kit that matches your 5-frame, 8-frame, or 10-frame hive configuration. This kit supplements a colony's winter food reserves; it does not replace adequate stores, moisture management, or the rest of your winter preparation.
At a Glance
| Configuration | Shim Height | Fondant Included |
|---|---|---|
| 5-frame | 3/4 inch | One 1.5 lb fondant patty |
| 8-frame | 3/4 inch | Two 2.2 lb fondant patties |
| 10-frame | 3/4 inch | Two 2.2 lb fondant patties |
- Purpose: Supplemental or emergency solid winter feeding
- Placement: Above the frames, with fondant positioned close to the winter cluster
- Construction: Assembled, unfinished pine feeding shim
- Selection: Match the shim to your 5-, 8-, or 10-frame hive configuration
Why Use a 3/4-Inch Winter Feeding Shim?
A feeding shim is a shallow rim that creates extra clearance between hive components. For winter feeding, that clearance provides a dedicated space for solid feed directly above the colony.
Lappe's Bee Supply has found that surprisingly little additional hive space is needed to make fondant accessible above the frames. The 3/4-inch shim provides useful feeding clearance without requiring a full empty hive body solely to make room for solid feed.
The prepared fondant also gives beekeepers a ready-to-use solid-feed option instead of making homemade sugar cakes or managing loose dry sugar.
Choose the Correct Hive Size
Select the Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit that matches your existing hive configuration. Lappe's recommends using the correctly sized feeding shim rather than adapting a rim intended for a different frame count.
- 5-frame: 20" L × 9-5/16" W × 3/4" H; includes one 1.5 lb fondant patty
- 8-frame: 20" L × 14" W × 3/4" H; includes two 2.2 lb fondant patties
- 10-frame: 20" L × 16-3/16" W × 3/4" H; includes two 2.2 lb fondant patties
Correct sizing matters because the shim should seat properly with the surrounding hive equipment without creating significant unintended gaps.
Product Specifications
| Specification | 5-Frame | 8-Frame | 10-Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Pine | Pine | Pine |
| Finish | Unfinished | Unfinished | Unfinished |
| Shim Dimensions | 20" L × 9-5/16" W | 20" L × 14" W | 20" L × 16-3/16" W |
| Shim Height | 3/4" | 3/4" | 3/4" |
| Assembly | Assembled | Assembled | Assembled |
| Fondant Included | One 1.5 lb fondant patty | Two 2.2 lb fondant patties | Two 2.2 lb fondant patties |
Finish Note: The pine feeding shim arrives unfinished. Applying an exterior hive finish is optional and is not required before use. Beekeepers may apply their preferred exterior hive finish if desired.
What Is Included?
- One assembled pine feeding shim in the selected 5-, 8-, or 10-frame size
- The fondant quantity specified for the selected kit: one 1.5 lb patty for the 5-frame kit or two 2.2 lb patties for the 8- and 10-frame kits
About the Included Fondant
The included HiveAlive fondant patties are prepared and ready to use. 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. Removing the plastic covering can cause the fondant to dry out.
Storage: Before use, store the fondant in a dark, dry place. The optimum storage temperature is 50°F to 68°F (10-20°C).
Additional fondant may be purchased separately if more supplemental feed is needed later in winter.
HiveAlive Fondant Ingredients:
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.
How to Set Up the Winter Feeding Kit
- Confirm that the feeding shim matches your 5-, 8-, or 10-frame hive configuration.
- Check that the shim is structurally sound and able to seat properly.
- Place the shim at the top of the colony to create clearance above the frames.
- Keep the fondant in its plastic wrapper and cut a 3-inch (8 cm) opening in the front of the packet, approximately the size of the HiveAlive logo.
- Place the packet above the brood frames with the opening positioned directly over the frames and close to the bee cluster.
- Restore the colony's upper components as part of its normal winter arrangement.
- Confirm that the shim and surrounding equipment seat properly without significant unintended gaps.
Lappe's Bee Supply Apiary Note: Feed Location Matters
With winter supplemental feed, don't consider only whether food is present—consider whether the cluster can reach it. Lappe's positions fondant above the frames and close to the winter cluster because prolonged cold can restrict the bees' movement through the hive.
During winter checks, consider remaining feed and cluster location together. Keep inspections brief and conduct them during suitable weather when possible to avoid unnecessary chilling.
When Is Solid Winter Feed Useful?
Lappe's Bee Supply generally uses this feeding approach after temperatures become too cold for dependable liquid feeding or when a colony needs accessible emergency carbohydrates during winter. The fondant remains above the frames where the cluster can move upward toward it.
3/4-Inch vs. 1-1/4-Inch Feeding Shim
Lappe's Bee Supply uses the 3/4-inch feeding shim when only enough clearance for the included fondant is needed. The 5-frame kit's 1.5 lb fondant patty and the two 2.2 lb fondant patties included with the 8- and 10-frame kits fit within the 3/4-inch feeding space, providing room for the feed without creating unnecessary extra space above the frames.
Choose the 1-1/4-inch Super Tall Bee Hive Shim when additional feeding clearance is needed, such as when using a thicker fondant patty like the 5 lb HiveAlive fondant patty. The taller shim provides additional room for thicker solid feed.
Lappe's Rule of Thumb: Use the 3/4-inch shim when the fondant fits within the shallower feeding space. Move to the 1-1/4-inch shim when thicker feed requires additional clearance. We prefer not to add extra empty hive space when it is not needed.
If you already have the fondant patties and only need the shim, the assembled wooden bee hive shim and assembled super tall wooden bee hive shim are available separately.
Winter Monitoring and What to Expect
During winter checks, look at the amount of fondant remaining and the cluster's location. If the fondant is becoming depleted while substantial winter weather remains, evaluate whether additional supplemental feed is appropriate.
If fondant remains untouched, first consider whether the cluster can readily reach it. Cold weather, cluster position, existing stores, and other colony conditions can affect whether bees move to supplemental feed.
Continue monitoring moisture conditions separately as part of your normal winter hive management.
Care and Reuse of the Wooden Shim
Normal staining, discoloration, wax, and manageable propolis buildup do not by themselves make a feeding shim unserviceable. Lappe's has found that these wooden shims can remain useful over multiple seasons when they remain structurally sound and continue to seat properly.
Pay more attention to function than cosmetic appearance. Inspect the shim for significant warping, cracking, failed or separating joints, rot, or other damage that interferes with proper seating or creates openings that should not be present. Repair or replace the shim when structural damage prevents it from fitting and functioning correctly.
Important Expectations
- The included fondant is supplemental feed and is not guaranteed to provide enough food for an entire winter.
- Additional fondant may be needed depending on colony condition, existing stores, weather, winter duration, consumption, and feed accessibility.
- Fondant consumption varies by colony, so monitor remaining feed rather than relying on a fixed feeding interval.
More Winter Feeding Resources
For additional supplemental feed, see Lappe's replacement winter fondant. The separately sold fondant has its own package specification and should not be confused with the fondant quantities included in this kit.
Browse Winter Bee Feed & Feeding Supplies for additional winter feeding options, or read Winter Feeding Honeybees: A Detailed Guide for Beekeepers for more information about supplemental feed, accessibility, winter food checks, and common feeding mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Bee Hive Shim Winter Feeding Kit should I choose?
Choose the configuration that matches your hive: 5-frame, 8-frame, or 10-frame. Using the correctly sized shim helps it seat properly with the surrounding hive equipment.
What fondant comes with each kit?
The 5-frame kit includes one 1.5 lb fondant patty. The 8-frame and 10-frame kits each include two 2.2 lb fondant patties.
Why use a 3/4-inch feeding shim instead of an empty hive body?
The 3/4-inch feeding shim creates dedicated clearance for solid winter feed while adding considerably less unused hive space than a full empty hive body. Lappe's has found that this shallow space is enough to provide useful fondant clearance above the colony.
Where should I put the fondant?
Position the fondant above the frames and close to the winter cluster. Lappe's considers accessibility important because prolonged cold can restrict how far the cluster can move to reach food.
Does this winter feeding kit replace the colony's normal winter stores?
No. The included fondant is supplemental or emergency winter feed and does not replace adequate winter food reserves.
How do I know when more fondant may be needed?
Consider both the amount of fondant remaining and the colony's location and condition. Fondant becoming nearly depleted while substantial winter weather remains is one reason to evaluate whether additional supplemental feed is appropriate.
Why aren't my bees eating the fondant?
Fondant may be present without being readily accessible to the winter cluster. Cluster location, cold weather, existing stores, and other colony conditions can affect whether bees reach and consume supplemental feed.
Is staining or propolis buildup on the feeding shim a problem?
Not by itself. Normal staining, discoloration, wax, and manageable propolis buildup can occur with use. Structural integrity and proper seating matter more than cosmetic appearance.
When should I replace the wooden feeding shim?
Repair or replacement is appropriate when warping, cracking, failed joints, rot, or other structural damage prevents the shim from seating and functioning properly or creates openings that should not be present.
