I'm in the process of putting together my order list to take advantage of Brushy's free shipping deal. I'm very curious about what is called the "Ventilated Inner Cover and Moving Screen". Seems like all the catalogs have them. I definitely appreciate the importance of good hive ventilation and I like the idea of leaving one of these on all summer long. But I'm thinking that a couple of 3/4 inch holes drilled into the top super/hive body and screened over will do the same thing. Will save the cost too. Before I order some of these I'd like to find out if anyone has had experience with this equipment and would like to offer some ideas about how well it works and if it's worthwhile. Thanks.
(Post Modification: Just realized this probably would have been better to post in the "Equipment" section. Just copied it over there.)
90% of the stuff in bee mags are fluff....meaning over hyped crap.
There are many ways to ventilate a hive without extra equipment and the cost that goes with it.
I think they are going in the wrong direction. You may be better off with a piece of insulation to increase the R-value of your cover, never feed syrup in cold weather which would diminish most moisture concerns, and let your bees ventilate as needed.
One of the guys in the group I belong to (http://www.southerntierbeekeepers.org/ (http://www.southerntierbeekeepers.org/)) made a shim of about two inches high with a couple screened holes on each side. It may have included an upper entrance.
I have a few TBHs that I ventilate the way I described, and it seems to be okay. The bees propolize the screen if they feel they are getting too much of a draft. (They are in the meadow where the winds can be mean at times.) And I don't mess with their decision. I'm going into my third year and I'm selling my TBHs (Know anyone who wants to buy six of them?) and converting to all Langs in the spring -that's why I'm compiling my list now . (TBHs are okay but just don't work for me and I'd like to have a little honey at the end of the season!)
I've read about the shim idea. It's a good one. I think I'll just continue my drilled holes idea when I set up my Langs. I can turn them into upper entrances when I need to.
A screened inner cover will give you the ??convenience?? of lifting 10 frames out of the super at once, when they cover the screen with propolis and attach it the the top bars of all the frames.
One 3/4 in. hole near the top of the upper super will give you sufficient year round ventilation and an upper entrance.
Quote from: BjornBee on December 04, 2010, 02:01:10 PM
90% of the stuff in bee mags are fluff....meaning over hyped crap.
Hey! Maybe this is a good idea for the beginning of a new posting section! "Fluff equipment and over-hyped-crap." :)
I've got one "Queen marking pens are for sissies!" (beat you to it bjorn :-D )
Scott
What kind of (top) outer cover you useing :?
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
When it is hot out in the summer and you think they need some more air, just put a small rock between the top and the inner cover. Very cheap.
Quote from: AllenF on December 04, 2010, 08:05:17 PM
When it is hot out in the summer and you think they need some more air, just put a small rock between the top and the inner cover. Very cheap.
I saw a you tube last year where the guy used quarters under the lid for spacers. I tried it on one hive. I don't know if it worked and I don't remember if I found the quarters when they fell into the grass :buttkick:
My hive is in a pretty hot area on top of a roof and I drilled a couple of 3/4 holes in each supper and brood box, the bees usually use the holes for in / out movement. Its cold here now in Wisconsin so I just put corks in the holes, seemed to work OK for me for extra air flow, and you can change them quickly if it gets real hot or cold, just a novice thought.
This piece of equipment is not exactly used for ventilation, but I was wondering if anyone has used it and if some other technique can be used in its place. Seems pretty clever to me.
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/10-Frame-Double-Screen-Board/productinfo/694/ (http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/10-Frame-Double-Screen-Board/productinfo/694/)
Bjorn,
What do you think? Should this be placed in the "Fluff equipment and over-hyped-crap" category? :-D
I have use it for double queen hives (Double Screen (aka) Snelgrove Board) and splits on top of one parent colony
http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=462 (http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=462)
http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=302 (http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=302)
Get the book Swarming Its Control & Prevention by L.E.Snelgrove
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
.
Chinese solar panel caps to you hives.
http://www.google.fi/images?um=1&hl=fi&tbs=isch:1&&sa=X&ei=qgL8TInBDom38QON6KHrBg&ved=0CDAQBSgA&q=solar+panel+hat&spell=1&biw=1007&bih=443 (http://www.google.fi/images?um=1&hl=fi&tbs=isch:1&&sa=X&ei=qgL8TInBDom38QON6KHrBg&ved=0CDAQBSgA&q=solar+panel+hat&spell=1&biw=1007&bih=443)
(http://greenbydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/bamboo_sun_hat.jpg)
.
And to beekeepers
(http://www.ecofriend.org/images/solar-cap_9.jpg)
Hey;
They do make and sell solar fans for hives !
http://www.beecoolventilators.com/need.htm (http://www.beecoolventilators.com/need.htm)
Every High Class Apiary should have these !!
My hives are on the wrong side of the Tracks !
Bee-Bop
Some may hate this, but how good is AC for anyone really? Are'nt there some studies suggesting it can make people sick? If its too hot we go to the lake, any lake will do. 8-) Harder to do in some areas i guess.
Like Dr B I also drill top holes in my Lang supers for ventilation that I cork up, it works well. I also glue popcicle sticks to the bottom corners of my inner covers, w/ some colonies prone to filling the gaps and use SBB, sometimes with the bottoms closed and sometimes open w/ survivors in both. Go figure...
"the bees are the only experts."
thomas
Check out the sometimes heated, but very informative discussion that took place in October 2010 on this site w/ "Top Entrances" and ventilation as topic title between two long time members.
Sorry for my "techno-peasant" inability to link up to it, but it belongs w/ this thread. If you haven't read it yet you'll find it useful for this discussion.
thomas