Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: djgriggs on May 13, 2018, 03:19:15 PM

Title: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: djgriggs on May 13, 2018, 03:19:15 PM
Question for everyone in the know..

I was cutting my grass today in the back yard and seen this going on with the bees.
[attachment=0][/attachment]

Curious. As active as this hive is especially in 80 -90 degree weather should I remove the entrance reducer. for this hive. my other hive " the foundation-less hive" is not as active.
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: iddee on May 13, 2018, 04:04:03 PM
My rule is "Give them enough entrance to allow a smooth flow of traffic. I would remove it from that hive and place a short block on the end if needed.
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: Van, Arkansas, USA on May 13, 2018, 04:26:50 PM
I think Id said it very well.  When I see traffic congestion at entrance,  that is the reduced entrance has bees running into each other, bees waiting in line to go in or out, then I give more opening to the entrance.

Mr Griggs as you may or may not know, Iddee was trading skep hives with a fella named Mosses who was wondering in the desert.

All kidding aside: In other words, Iddee has over half a century of experience with the bees.  A fella ya want to listen to.
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: djgriggs on May 13, 2018, 06:18:11 PM
Okay, thanks ,, I went out directly after reading and removed the Reducers. Entrance is not so congested. still a lot of traffic but not as bad.

I also have been feeding my foundation-less Hive sugar water,,, sense I had done that it looks like they have improved comb production at least one full medium that I noticed and probably another half comb. I proceeded to remove the empty pale feeder.. I did not put another feeder in for the bees. I also added a Honey Queen excluder and a medium honey super..

What are your thoughts on this .?  Thanks
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: iddee on May 13, 2018, 06:36:00 PM
If you added the excluder directly under foundation, they may take a few weeks to start working it. I suggest putting an excluder UNDER a super they are presently working.

Van, are you saying I'm old just because I changed Methuzla's diapers?
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: BeeMaster2 on May 13, 2018, 07:04:40 PM
Iddee,
I thought you were Methuzla's great great grandfather.  :cheesy:
Jim
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: iddee on May 13, 2018, 08:54:35 PM
Jim,    :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue:
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: Acebird on May 13, 2018, 09:29:21 PM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on May 13, 2018, 07:04:40 PM
Iddee,
I thought you were Methuzla's great great grandfather.  :cheesy:
Jim
Nah Jim that is just a story he likes to tell the newbies.
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: djgriggs on May 13, 2018, 09:33:28 PM
Quote from: iddee on May 13, 2018, 06:36:00 PM
If you added the excluder directly under foundation, they may take a few weeks to start working it. I suggest putting an excluder UNDER a super they are presently working.

Van, are you saying I'm old just because I changed Methuzla's diapers?

A little confused on this .. ( think I might have got to much sun :) )

the foundation-less hive.. has two deeps the main deep has a mixture of foundation ( original bee buy ) mixed with foundation less. Same with second deep.. What I did today was add a queen excluder above the 2nd deep and added the medium super above it.
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: iddee on May 13, 2018, 09:48:39 PM
The bees know where their ceiling was yesterday. They will not venture through an excluder when they think it is still their ceiling. You have to put the super on until they begin to use it, then put the excluder under it.

Before others say I'm wrong........ Yes, they will go through it in the weeks to come. It will take much longer than if they are given a chance to use the area first.
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: cao on May 13, 2018, 09:55:36 PM
Quote from: iddee on May 13, 2018, 09:48:39 PM
Before others say I'm wrong........ Yes, they will go through it in the weeks to come. It will take much longer than if they are given a chance to use the area first.
Actually I was going to say that you were right, But I can change that if you would prefer. :wink:
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: djgriggs on May 13, 2018, 10:31:03 PM
This all makes sense to me , thank you for letting me know.
Title: Re: Entrance reducers 80 - 90 degree weather
Post by: NasalSponge on May 14, 2018, 11:51:09 AM
Entrance reducers to queen excludes in a single bound! 8) We are in the midst of a flow right now, the likes of which I haven't seen in a couple of years so.....no reduce for me!! 8)

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk