Double Screen Boards: Essential Beekeeping Tool

Are Double-Screen Boards Necessary?

Double screen boards are indispensable for beekeepers seeking flexible, non-invasive methods to manage hive splits, queen rearing, overwintering weaker colonies, and combining hives—offering controlled pheromone and heat transfer while preventing direct bee movement.

Overview

A double screen board (also known as a Snelgrove board) is a wooden insert with two layers of screen separated by a small gap.

When placed between two hive bodies, it isolates the upper and lower colonies physically while allowing airflow, warmth, and pheromone exchange.

This design enables a range of hive manipulations without the stress of direct bee mixing.

Construction and Types

Double screen boards are typically fabricated from high-density overlay (HDO) plywood or similarly durable material. Key variations include:

Wax-Dipped Finish: Provides moisture resistance and longevity.^[1]
Assembled vs. Unassembled Kits: Some vendors ship fully assembled boards; others offer unassembled kits for easier shipping and DIY assembly.^[2]
Frame Compatibility: Available in 8-frame or 10-frame configurations to fit standard hive dimensions.^[3]

Applications and Benefits

Application	Description
Hive Splitting	Insert the board between two 10-frame deeps to identify which half produces queen cells before completing a split ^[4].
Queen Rearing	Create a queenright finisher below and a queenless starter above, facilitating controlled queen cell development ^[4].
Overwintering Weaker Colonies	Place the weaker colony above a strong colony; rising heat maintains winter cluster temperature ^[4]^[1].
Combining Colonies	Use the board to acclimate two colonies before fully merging, reducing aggression ^[1].
Bottom Board Ventilation	Serve as a partially ventilated bottom board with a reduced entrance for enhanced hive airflow ^[4].

How to Use

Placement: Slide the double screen board between two hive boxes, ensuring proper orientation of entrances (upper colony uses board entrance; lower colony uses bottom board entrance).
Monitoring: After several days, inspect brood and queen cell development in each box.
Adjustments: Close or open additional shutters (if present) on specialized Snelgrove boards to direct forager flow and nurse bee separation.^[5]
Removal/Combining: Once objectives (split, queen introduction, overwintering) are achieved, remove the board and proceed with hive management as usual.

Buying Guide and Comparison

Vendor / Model	Material & Features	Dimensions (10-frame)	Price (approx.)	Delivery
Nature’s Image Farm – 10-Frame Double Screen Board	Durable HDO ply, painted edges	Standard 10-frame depth	Not specified	5–8 day delivery ^[4]
HillCo – Wax Dipped 10-Frame	Wax-dipped finish, hardware cloth spacing, 3/8″ entrance	1¼″ high	Not specified	4–11 day delivery ^[1]
PerfectBee – 8/10-Frame Double Screen Board	Fully assembled, three adjustable entrances	20″ × 16¼″ × 1¼″	$34.89	4–11 day delivery ^[3]
Mann Lake – 10-Frame Double Screen Board	Pre-assembled, durable materials, USA-made	1.50″ × 16.90″ × 21.20″	Free over $150 ^[6]	Same-day (in stock)
Dadant – B91601 10-Frame Double Screen Board	Select assembled, standard split/quitting tool	Compatible with 10-frame equipment	$34.95	Free shipping ^[2]

Conclusion

Double screen boards provide a versatile, cost-effective solution for advanced hive management techniques.

Whether preventing swarms, simplifying splits, enhancing queen rearing, or overwintering nucleus colonies, incorporating a double screen board can elevate both productivity and colony health.

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