Being a newbee with a avid hobby of woodworking I started building everything I could get plans for. I have SBB's, many deeps, many mediums, miller top feeders, inner covers, tele covers and a few nuc's. I started building the shallow top vent boxes last night and was wondering if these are really nessesary. I know they would provide alot of air movement but are they overkill. Will just a top enterance give me enough ventilation
No response Maybe I didn't explain this item right so let me try again. This is a shallow 4" box with 10-3/4" holes drilled through the side walls at a uphill angle to allow rain to drain back out. It sits on a inner cover with the according to the plans the center hole enlarged to 2"X4" The Holes are screened to keep out unwanteds.
I guess it is each to his own but I don't see the need for such a thing. I have screened bottoms and migratory tops with no ventilation. Haven't had any problems down here in the hot direct Texas sun. I'd say don't waste you time and resources.
>I know they would provide alot of air movement but are they overkill. Will just a top enterance give me enough ventilation
Yes, a top entrance will give you enough ventilation.
I think propping the front of the telescoping cover with a small twig or stone is sufficient. I lift it just a little off of the front of the inner cover. Not high enough to expose the inner cover .I have seen very little condensation with the entrance reduced. I have one hive that has only the mouse guard in front with no reducer on and it is faring about the same as the ones with a reducer.I think the ventilation boxes your building may be more beneficial in hot weather.
Let us know how it all works out.
I prefer the top entrance. To make one just construct a solid bottom board and turn it over. I use flat stock which I tie together with a cross slat on each end and then use square (3/4X3/4) stock as a spacer between boards and hive body.