Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Stone on October 02, 2011, 09:06:53 AM

Title: Home made mouse guards
Post by: Stone on October 02, 2011, 09:06:53 AM
Anybody have some good ideas for home made mouse guards?

I tried to make some from that metal screening that masons use to spread mortar on walls.  If you're using tin snips it takes forever.

Title: Re: Home made mouse guards
Post by: Michael Bush on October 02, 2011, 12:23:32 PM
Cut a piece of 1/4" hardware cloth to fit.
Title: Re: Home made mouse guards
Post by: S.M.N.Bee on October 02, 2011, 12:47:29 PM
I made mine out of aluminum angle I bought at menards. Just cut to size and drill five 3/8" holes near the center.

John
Title: Re: Home made mouse guards
Post by: bee-nuts on October 02, 2011, 10:50:30 PM
Or just make a entrance reducer and drip a few 3/8" holes in it.  Other ideas are just as good or better.  This time of years is bad for robbing where im at.  I reduced all mine to two 3/8 holes.  Last winter I thought I had entrances small enough to be mice proof and come spring I found out differently.  Field mice can get through much smaller holes than you think.
Title: Re: Home made mouse guards
Post by: D Coates on October 03, 2011, 10:51:22 AM
I'm with Michael.  What I do is get a 1/4 mesh and cut it to width of the lower entrance, but taller than the needed height.  I then bend it into a "V" the length of the strip.  I then wedge it into entrance.
Title: Re: Home made mouse guards
Post by: Robo on October 03, 2011, 01:15:09 PM
Quote from: D Coates on October 03, 2011, 10:51:22 AM
I'm with Michael.  What I do is get a 1/4 mesh and cut it to width of the lower entrance, but taller than the needed height.  I then bend it into a "V" the length of the strip.  I then wedge it into entrance.

Same here, but I use 1/2" mesh.  Seems to get less clogged up with dead bees.
Title: Re: Home made mouse guards
Post by: dpence on October 03, 2011, 10:15:41 PM
I use 1/2" hardware cloth as well.  Works well for me.