Inner cover notch

[TheMasonicHive]

Hello everyone,


Ya know, I've read a ton about beekeeping for a few years before I made my decision to give it a try, and up and until I ordered my bees last week I felt pretty confident.

But now...I'm in a bit of a panic!  So please forgive me for all the questions I've been posting.

I know from what I've read, and who I've helped before my inner cover is supposed to have a ventilation notch...

Mine does not.  I assembled everything per instructions, but the inner cover is missing that notch.

Is this common?  Is this something I need to modify?

Thanks!

[bassman1977]

Is this common?  Is this something I need to modify?

No problem.  You can modify it if you want.  I have yet to own one with it.  I always crack my lids open anyway so it makes no difference to me one way or the other.

[TheMasonicHive]

Good point, didn't even think of that

[buzzbee]

I have some both ways. The ones with the notch are nice. you face the notch down and to the front.Put your outer telescoping cover on and slide forward as far as you can and it leaves a protected vent and upper entrance. Slide the outer cover back and it closes it nicely.
As bassman said,the others you can just lift a little with a small stick between inner and outer covers for ventilation. I often have to do this in addition to the notch in the dead heat of summer.

[Ollie]

Mine didn't come with the notch either, I make a notch on all my inner covers, 1/2 inch wide by 3/8 deep , essentially the height of the piece of wood that goes around.
It helps with ventilation and provides an alternative way for bees to get in or out should the bottom get blocked (dead bees in the winter)
In the summer the notch is down, in winter the notch is up.

[bassman1977]

In the summer the notch is down, in winter the notch is up.

Here's another one of those cases where personal preferences come into play.  Generally, I keep mine propped open all year round.  If I had one already notched, I would keep the notch down year round also.

[Michael Bush]

Two partial cuts with a saw and a pocketknife or chisel to break it out will make easy work of making a notch.  I coud do the whole thing with just my leatherman...

[Two Bees]

A router or dremel tool works wonders!

I have made inner covers with and without vents, preferring to add a little spacer in the back between the hive body and inner cover to raise the cover up a bit.

[buzzbee]

Oh,and the notch is not gonna make or break your new colony.I would be more concerned with feeding,keeping appropriate entrance size and learning. And also having fun with your new hobby.

[Michael Bush]

It will matter more next winter...

[BULLSEYE BILL]

When I don't make my own, I buy my inners and outers  from Drapers in Ia.  Their inners have a notch on either end and the outers have a corresponding notch in either end of them as well.  I usually leave the notch up year round and I also prop one end of the cover on top of the end of the inner during the summer for added air flow, but be sure to add a heavy block to keep the lid on.

Their lids are made so you can add a sheet of insulation between the galvanized cover and the wood if you like.

[D Coates]

The ones with the notch are nice. you face the notch down and to the front.Put your outer telescoping cover on and slide forward as far as you can and it leaves a protected vent and upper entrance.

I do that as well, but on more than on occasion I've had a spider hiding off to the side of that upper entrance reaching out and grabbing a fresh meal when it pleased. 

[Two Bees]

Spider's got a hive tool coming at him in the near future if it were my hive!