Hey there,
It is going down to 4 deg C tonight (with a chance of frost) which is close to 40 F, or so. I was just up at my bees site feeding them more sugar water and was wondering if I should be putting an entrance reducer on soon. When the days warm up into the 20's/70's they are very busy so I don't want to obstruct their access for those busy days. We don't normally get any hot days from this point onwards but it can get nice and warm (70's) from time to time at the warmest part of the day.
What to do and when? :-\
Unless you are getting robbing, just adjust the entrance size for the volume of traffic. I leave a one inch diameter hole through the coldest part of winter.
The main thing is a mouse guard. Now would be a good time if you're getting where you're likely to get a frost.
Does anyone reduce directly after honey collection and leave them on?
Yes. I would reduce in a dearth of any kind and leave them on until a traffic jam in the spring.
Thanks.
We're expecting frost tonight here (0 to 2C). I reduced my entrances down to 133mm x 9mm a couple nights ago.
How wide is a bee? 5mm? A 133mm slot is then a 26 lane bee highway. 26 lanes! How long does it take a bee to transverse the entrance? 2 seconds at most? 26 lanes x 30 bees/min = a throughput of 780 bees per minute. If your hive has that much traffic, then you are a very lucky bee keeper indeed!
I see no logical reason for having a large entrance in cool weather.
.
I reduce entrances when nectar flow ceases. The ventilation has drived the queen lay to upper boxes. Usuallu the lowest box is more or less full of pollen.
When entrance is reduced, the queen comes dow to lay to make winterbees.
After flow I meet one and half boxes brood area there and pollen almost gone.
I do not keep excluders. Reducing the entrance is important to winter brood rearing.
Thank you,
Another cold night forecasted tonight 2C with greater risk of frost. Mouse guard? Can this be a wire screening or is there something else that works well?
I closed off all lower entrances on my Langs a few days ago, leaving just top entrances open. I've never had any issues w/ mice using top entrances.
My Long hive w/ top entrance only has been reduced (from wide open down to a 1/4 H x 2" W entry) for winter w/ a stick for the purpose placed under cover, and uses a piece of 1/4 " hardware cloth as a mouse guard cut to size.
We had 27 F this AM.
thomas
Does anyone have a good design on mouse guards? I plan on using an upper entrance this winter, but wanted to at least leave a 1" opening at the bottom for Ventilation. I use the standard 95 cent wooden entrance reducer that you can get a brushy that has a 1" and a 3" opening. I've seen the entrance reducer/mouse guard there that uses small holes punched in metal. I've always shy-ed away from metal because I think it is hard on the wings. Anyone have any luck with those?
How about stapling some #8 hardware mesh/screen over that bottom 1" hole and making the bees use just the top entrance?
I'm with T-Beek, never had any mouse issues with a narrow top entrance.
I like that idea!! Keep it simple stupid!! Thanks bluebee.
I use 1/2" hardware cloth for mouse guards... I like them to be able to carry out the dead bees and trash easily. I don't reduce my production hives, leave the opening for ventilation. I do always have a top entrance.
A mouse (even a well-fed field mouse) will get through 1/2 " hardware cloth. Its why I went to 1/4" for my Long Hives.
thomas
I've used 1/2 hardware cloth too. Have had a few mice pass through it. A mouse can get past a dime size hole or anything as small as it's head.
Quote from: BlueBee on September 16, 2011, 01:46:56 PM
How about stapling some #8 hardware mesh/screen over that bottom 1" hole and making the bees use just the top entrance?
I'm with T-Beek, never had any mouse issues with a narrow top entrance.
Hey why not cut out the delay and pop the bees straight in the freezer.
Hot air rises! A hole in the top lets it out fast and a matching hole in the bottom lets its out even faster.
Dont believe me? get three of cheap temp probes put one at the top of the hive one at the bottom one in te middle and try it out closing the bottom, the top, both closed both open
hive with top and bottom open ? more like a chiller!
derekm; please, this topic (slightly off topic) of "top entrances v other entrances" has been argued nearly to death many times over already on this and other forums (I've got scars). Just type it in the search box for hours of entertainment.
How cold do your bees get during winter? Sticking w/ the OP topic; Do you reduce entrance size before winter? Do you feed before/during winter? Have you ever tried top entrances? If so, what did you experience?
thomas
I have tried top ventilation and observed the the temp differences. More pronounced than even i guessed. Measure it! dont take my word except that its worth seeing for your self.
+4C ambiant here yesterday morning. inside hive temp at the bottom 19C at the top 38C. Thats a full sized hive but with only about 1/4 full of bees with 50% brood. Brood doubling in size in 4 weeks in september/august.