crownboard

Crownboard is a flat wooden board used as the top component of certain beehives, notably Warre and top-bar designs. It forms the ceiling of the brood chamber and provides a surface for insulation and, where desired, feeding devices. The board is sized to match the hive and is typically installed directly above the uppermost brood frames.

Construction and variations: Crownboards can be solid or perforated with small holes or slots to aid ventilation. Some setups use a quilt or insulating layer on top of the crownboard to manage moisture; in other systems the crownboard is covered by a weatherproof roof but still allows ventilation.

Function and practices: A crownboard helps control humidity and temperature inside the hive, reduces drafts, and creates a stable top surface for feeding or insulation. It differs from the inner cover used in Langstroth-style hives, which sits below the roof; crownboards are central in non-Langstroth designs.

Material and installation: Usually wood (pine, plywood), but other materials are used. The crownboard rests on the hive walls or sits above the frames, with openings adjusted seasonally.

See also: Beekeeping, Warre hive, top-bar hive, hive ventilation.