Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Liquid Feeding Kit

Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Liquid Feeding Kit

Ready-to-use liquid feed with purpose-sized clearance above the frames

The Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Liquid Feeding Kit combines a reusable 1-1/4-inch wooden hive shim with ready-to-use HiveAlive EZ Feed Super Syrup pouches. The shim creates the vertical space needed to place a full feed pouch above the frames without using a full empty super solely for feeding clearance.

Lappe's Bee Supply manufactures the assembled wooden Super Tall Shim in Iowa and pairs it with HiveAlive syrup pouches made in Ireland. Choose the size that matches your Langstroth-style hive.

Product Overview

A hive shim, sometimes called an eke, is a shallow hive component that creates extra vertical space between standard hive components. For this kit, “Super Tall” refers specifically to the 1-1/4-inch-high shim; it does not mean a full-depth hive body or honey super.

Lappe’s has confirmed that the 1-1/4-inch shim provides enough clearance for a full EZ Feed pouch without the hive cover pressing tightly against it, while avoiding the extra space of using a full hive body solely for feeding clearance.

The supplied feed is ready-to-use 2:1 sugar syrup containing HiveAlive. Because the syrup arrives in disposable pouches, there is no syrup mixing, jar filling, feeder-reservoir filling, or conventional liquid-feeder cleanup for that feeding round.

At a Glance

Key Features and Benefits

• Purpose-sized 1-1/4-inch feeding clearance: creates room for a full EZ Feed pouch.
• Ready-to-use syrup: eliminates the need to mix sugar syrup or transfer the supplied feed into a conventional feeder.
• Feed above the frames: the pouch can be placed directly on the top bars within the shallow feeding space created by the shim.
• Adjustable feeding access: the number of small punctures can be changed according to the feeding setup rather than relying on a valve, float, or other feeder mechanism.

Common Uses

The Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Liquid Feeding Kit is intended for supplemental carbohydrate feeding when conditions are suitable for liquid syrup. Uses can include:

• spring supplemental feeding;
• feeding during new-colony establishment;
• summer nectar gaps or dearth periods;
• fall feeding while conditions remain suitable for liquid syrup; and
• emergency supplemental feeding.

Colony needs vary with population, existing food stores, natural forage, season, temperature, and other conditions.

Is This Product Right for You?

This kit may be a good choice if you use corresponding Langstroth-style equipment and want a compact way to offer ready-to-use liquid feed directly above the colony without mixing syrup or using a full empty hive body for feeding clearance.

Consider a higher-capacity refillable feeder when you need to provide substantially more syrup or want to reduce feeder visits. Consider a solid-feed or other cold-weather feeding method when conditions are not suitable for liquid syrup.

This product should not be treated as universally compatible with Layens, horizontal top-bar, Warre, proprietary, or other hive systems that do not match standard Langstroth box dimensions.

Sizing or Selection Guidance

Select the kit by the frame-count footprint of your hive:

The 5-frame shim is intended for standard 5-frame Langstroth-style nuc equipment. The 8- and 10-frame shims are generally compatible with corresponding standard Langstroth equipment.

Same-frame-count equipment from different manufacturers will normally be compatible without modification, but small differences in outside dimensions, lumber thickness, rim construction, assembly, warping, and manufacturing tolerances can affect how neatly components stack. Verify dimensions when precise cross-brand fit matters, particularly with 5-frame nuc equipment.

Flow-branded or other equipment that uses Langstroth-style frames should be evaluated by actual box dimensions rather than assumed compatible from frame style alone.

What Is Included

5-Frame Kit

• 1 assembled 5-frame Super Tall Shim
• 1 HiveAlive EZ Feed Super Syrup 26 fl oz pouch

8-Frame Kit

• 1 assembled 8-frame Super Tall Shim
• 2 HiveAlive EZ Feed Super Syrup 26 fl oz pouches

10-Frame Kit

• 1 assembled 10-frame Super Tall Shim
• 2 HiveAlive EZ Feed Super Syrup 26 fl oz pouches

Not included: corresponding hive equipment, brood box, or frames. No separate feeder or empty super is required for the supplied pouch-feeding setup.

Compatible Accessories

The wooden Super Tall Shim is also available separately for beekeepers who want the reusable hive component without this complete liquid-feeding kit.

• Super Tall Bee Hive Shim

How the Pouch Feeding System Works

The Super Tall Shim creates a shallow feeding chamber immediately above the frames. The syrup pouch rests within that space, and bees access the syrup through small intentional punctures in the pouch.

In Lappe’s early apiary use, colonies have accessed the pouch more reliably when it is placed directly over or near occupied frames. Perfect centering appears to matter less than keeping the feed accessible to the active cluster.

Lappe's Apiary Note: Feed quantity should follow colony need and consumption, not hive size alone. For an 8- or 10-frame kit, having two pouches available does not mean both should automatically be installed at once.

Before First Use

1. Confirm that the selected shim matches your hive's size.
2. Inspect the syrup pouch before installation. Do not use a pouch for normal feeding if it shows unintended punctures, obvious leakage, a questionable seam, or other significant package damage.
3. Place the pouch flat in the feeding space with the printed side facing downward.
4. Position the pouch directly on the top bars, over or near the frames occupied by the colony.
5. Following the pouch manufacturer’s guidance, use a small sharp object, such as a pin, to make 1–3 small holes to mimic a natural honey flow, or 3–7 small holes for faster feeding during an emergency or for fall feeding.
6. Install the Super Tall Shim around the pouch and confirm that the hive cover can sit normally without pressing tightly against the full pouch.

Do not assume that more feeding holes or more pouches automatically provide a better feeding result. Feeding access and quantity should be matched to colony conditions.

What to Expect During Feeding

The flexible pouch settles and collapses as syrup is removed. Consumption rate can vary substantially between colonies and at different times of year.

Rapid syrup consumption by itself does not prove that additional syrup should immediately be supplied. Evaluate the colony's overall food situation rather than using consumption speed alone.

Care and Storage

Reusable Wooden Shim

Remove the shim when the extra feeding space is no longer needed. Normal apiary use may leave the unfinished wood with propolis, wax staining, discoloration, or minor surface wear. These signs of use do not by themselves mean the shim needs replacement; Lappe’s recommends judging its condition by proper fit and structural soundness rather than appearance.

Replace the shim if significant warping, major cracking, separated joints, broken wood, or other damage interferes with proper stacking; no fixed service life is assigned to the wooden shim.

Feed Pouches

Protect unopened pouches from puncture, crushing, excessive heat, and other package damage, and store them according to HiveAlive's published storage guidance. Each pouch has an expiration date, so check the package before feeding syrup that has been stored for an extended period.

Remove and dispose of empty pouches rather than leaving disposable packaging in the feeding space indefinitely.

Bee Feed Composition

The included HiveAlive EZ Feed Super Syrup is a ready-to-use 2:1 sugar syrup containing HiveAlive, a honey-bee feed supplement made primarily from selected seaweed extracts and blended with lemongrass and thyme oil.

The 2:1 ratio means the syrup is relatively concentrated, providing more sugar and less water than a 1:1 syrup while remaining ready to feed straight from the pouch. Manufacturer-listed ingredients are invert sugar syrup, fructose, and HiveAlive.

The manufacturer's dry-matter sugar analysis is:

• Fructose: 40 ± 2%
• Dextrose/glucose: 30 ± 2%
• Sucrose: 30 ± 2%

HiveAlive states that the syrup does not contain high-fructose corn syrup.

Ordering Support

Feed products have a defined expiration date and may not have their full shelf life remaining at the time of purchase. If ordering feed in advance, contact Lappe’s Bee Supply beforehand to confirm the expiration dates of current inventory. Bee feed is non-returnable, including unopened feed, and product remaining after its expiration date is not eligible for refund or replacement. Because this kit includes both a reusable wooden component and non-returnable feed, any return concern should be evaluated based on the affected component.

If a pouch arrives leaking or otherwise damaged, retain the pouch and packaging, photograph the damage, and contact Lappe's Bee Supply promptly rather than puncturing, using, discarding, or mailing the damaged pouch back without authorization. See the current Lappe's Bee Supply Terms and Conditions for applicable order, return, and damage-claim information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which kit size should I order?

Choose the kit that matches your hive's frame-count footprint: 5 frame for standard 5-frame Langstroth-style nuc equipment, 8 frame for corresponding 8-frame equipment, or 10 frame for corresponding 10-frame equipment. When mixing brands, compare the listed outside dimensions if precise fit is important.

Do I have to use both pouches in the 8- or 10-frame kit?

No. The two included pouches provide feeding flexibility rather than prescribing a two-pouch feeding amount. Decide how much feed to offer according to colony population, stored food, natural forage, season, and recent consumption.

Does the kit include a brood box or frames?

No. The kit includes the assembled Super Tall Shim and the specified HiveAlive syrup pouch or pouches. The corresponding hive equipment, brood box, and frames must be supplied separately.

Where should I place the syrup pouch?

Lappe's normally recommends placing the pouch directly on the top bars, over or as close as practical to the frames occupied by the colony. Perfect centering is less important than keeping the feed accessible to the bees.

Can I use this kit for winter feeding?

This kit is intended for supplemental liquid feeding when conditions are suitable for syrup. Lappe's does not position it as a primary sustained cold-winter feeding method; a solid-feed or other cold-weather feeding approach may be more appropriate when liquid feeding conditions are unsuitable.

Why are my bees consuming the syrup slowly?

Slow consumption does not automatically mean the pouch is defective. Check pouch placement and accessibility first, then consider temperature, natural nectar, existing stores, colony strength, and other colony conditions that can affect feed consumption.

Is the wooden shim reusable?

Yes. The assembled wooden shim is reusable, while the feed pouches are disposable. Propolis, wax staining, discoloration, and minor surface wear do not by themselves mean the shim needs replacement; structural soundness and proper fit are more important.

Is the bee feed returnable?

No. Bee feed is non-returnable, including unopened feed. A pouch that arrives damaged or leaking should be handled as a damage claim rather than an ordinary return.

Related Products and Resources

• Spring Bee Feeding Starter Kit — a refillable jar-feeding alternative.
• Deluxe Spring Bee Feeding Kit — a conventional jar-feeding configuration using an empty hive body around the feeder jars.
• HiveAlive EZ Feed Super Syrup — 1 Gallon — a higher-volume ready-to-use syrup option for use with another feeder.
• HiveAlive EZ Feed Super Syrup — 2.5 Gallons — a larger-volume liquid-feed option.
• Super Tall Shim Feeding Kit Combo — a shim-based solid-feed alternative for conditions where liquid syrup is not the preferred feeding format.
• Honey Bee Feed & Feeders — compare additional bee feed and feeder formats.
• HiveAlive Products — browse related HiveAlive nutrition products.