I hived 2 nuc's today in my plastic barrel top bar hive. Both colonies blocked the entrance holes up with bees. Should I reduce the entrance? It is a 2 inch circle. See picture below.
(http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/nietssemaj/Bees/PBTBH%20-%20Plastic%20Barrel%20Top%20Bar%20Hive/PIC_1421.jpg)
Unless you have comb hanging right there up against the entrance I would say that they want a smaller hole.
I would not worry about it. If the bees want a smaller hole, they will close it up. I have bees eating the duct tape off the cracks in my boxes now for more entrances.
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Hive is so full that they stuck the entrance.
Well I know that isn't true. Its a freshly hived Nuc. There is an empty bar in front of the first bar if brood.
I made a reduced entrance by drilling the hole out of a bung plug and put it in there. They seem a bit happier for now.
(http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/nietssemaj/Bees/PBTBH%20-%20Plastic%20Barrel%20Top%20Bar%20Hive/a510c283.jpg)
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Bees stuck the entance if they deed to defence the hive.
But they never stuck the entrance to reduce ventilation.
I assumed it was a defensive thing.
Perhaps it was just 2 new hives with confused bee's flying all over trying to make sure no-one unseemly got in.