A slatted rack is an optional piece of beekeeping equipment often used in Langstroth hives. The rack about two inches high and is placed between the bottom board and the lowest brood box.

The rack has the same outside dimensions as a standard Langstroth hive. The modern version has ten slats that run in the same direction as the frames in the brood box, with space between each one. In addition, it often has a 4-inch wide board that runs parallel to the front of the hive. You frequently see slatted racks in hobby hives but rarely in commercial hives.

The purpose of a slatted rack is to provide dead air space below the brood chamber. This layer of air helps to keep the colony cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

To prevent developing brood from overheating in summer, honey bees are reluctant to accumulate in the nest. Instead, they may beard on the front of the hive or below the hive stand. However, if you add a slatted rack, the adult bees have a place to gather inside the hive without crowding the brood area. In addition, the extra space makes fanning easier and more efficient, which can improve ventilation and promote the curing of your honey.

Some people believe that the purpose of a slatted rack is simply to reduce bearding. But others believe the extra space inside the hive can delay or reduce swarming by relieving overall congestion.

In winter the slatted rack provides an insulating layer of air between the brood nest and the outside. It also moves the brood nest further from the cold and drafty hive entrance.

A queen may resist laying eggs close to the hive entrance, possibly because of fluctuations in air temperature. But by using a slatted rack to move the lowest combs further from the entrance, you can increase the amount of usable brood-raising space.

MEASUREMENTS:

Front and back: 2 1/4" wide x 15 1/2" long, 3/4" dado the length of the pieces, 1/4" from the top.

Sides: 2 1/4" wide x 19 7/8" long with rabbett joints on each end and 3/4" x 3" dado 1/4" from the top for the shelf to fit into.

Shelf: 3 1/2" wide x 15 1/2" long with 3/8" x 1/2" dado on one edge for slats to fit into.

Slats: 3/4" x 16" with 1/2" x 3/8" tenon on one end to fit into the dado on the shelf.

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