newbie question

[buzzbee]

JP,
As far as moving the top forward,I think he was refering to tre telescoping top. Most inner covers have a small notch in front that you open or close with the outer cover when you slide it forward or back.

[foxman]

thanks buzzbee that is what i meant, as for proping up the top do i use shims or what?
thanks to all who have posted your info is great and appreciated,thanks for putting up w/ my inexperience

[JP]

Twigs work great for props.


...JP

[Highlandsfreedom]

an unasked question is the only stupid one... I think you picked a great location for the hives......

[foxman]

thanks but now i have a new problem the bees in hive #2 are gone!!!    help mee!!!

[Brian D. Bray]

When you have bees hanging on the front of the hive like that in warm weather, feeder in place, and entrance reducer set at the smallest setting you create a traffic jam for the foraging bees coming an going to the hive.  You need to open the entrance to at least the next largest setting.

I do not use entrance feeders and the only place I use entrance reducers is for the top entrance/vent.  I have bottomless hives and use the old reversable bottom boards for migratory tops.

If you hive absconded it sounds like they didn't like the digs.  An overly hot (temp wise) hive (packge or swarm) will abscond if not settled in with brood.

Ways to correct an stuffy hive is through the use of slatted racks, vented tops, and/or screened bottom boards.

[foxman]

thanks brian but why would they leave the one hive for the other with an equally small reducer?

[Brian D. Bray]

thanks brian but why would they leave the one hive for the other with an equally small reducer?

Queen loss and no eggs to grow another.  Swarms and packages will do that, established hives won't, they'll go laying worker.