Hello all, I am interested in putting some top entrances on my hives. Shims wont be a problem and notching the inner cover would be easy enough. Question though, do I still leave the bottom entrances as well? Close them for the winter? Currently all my hives have bottom entrances and the reducers are all removed. How large of an opening for a top entrance?
I drill a 3/4 hole in the top deep and also have notches in most my inner covers I leave the bottom entrance open in summer and put a reducer on for winter leaving the top openings open
I have a normal lower entrance on my SBB, and the 2 inch upper entrance that is in the all season inner cover. Once the bees get used to the upper entrance, the only time they use the lower on is during the afternoon orientation flights. I have two hives that have built up nicely and they really crowd the upper entrance.
In the winter I put a board in the lower opening that is 1/2 inch shorter than the opening, to leave a small lower entrance.
I can post a short video of the setup if you want.
HTH,
Jay
I have both all year round. I use 2 inch lumber to build a shim with a 1 1/2 hole drilled in it. During winter I put the inner cover one top of the shim and put fondant or use the mountain camp method of feeding granulated sugar. Otherwise I put the inner cover under the shim to reduce them building comb on the outer cover. It helps keep the hive cool, allows for quicker drying of the honey and reduces congestion. It does force the guards to be spread out so if your hive is weak I don't recommend it. Also, if you are using the upper shim they will propolise the opening all but shut during the fall before winter. I use SBB and leave them open all winter as well as 1/2 inch screen bent in a "V", turned horizontal and wedged in the lower entrance as a mouse guard.
Hey guys, if you can, would like to see any videos or photos of your top entrances. thanks
Here are a few pics of my hives.
(http://i46.tinypic.com/29ymst3.jpg)
(http://i46.tinypic.com/rw2m53.jpg)
Harvey,
Here is a video that I took of a laying worker hive that I had issues with last year. It has a lower and upper entrance. I am using the same all season inner cover as Annette. The SBB is kinda standard also. The bees don't seem to have an issue when the upper entrance gets moved up, every time I add a super.
Jay
Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vezcu_PAFMk#)
Nice video, I will build some entrances similar to that and give it a try! Can't imagine that many supers on a hive! That would be a lot of honey!!