Bottom Entrances

Started by JordanM, May 18, 2008, 04:53:56 PM

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JordanM

May 18, 2008, 04:53:56 PM
Do bees need to have a bottom entrance or can they live with only top entrances? I would like to build one with only a top entrance?

doak

#1
May 18, 2008, 06:32:47 PM
I would have a bottom entrance.
If a time came you wanted to rake the bottom board off to inspect whats falling down with out taking the hive completely apart, then you will have an opening to work with.
You can fix some kind of opening for the top or drill a 1/2 or 3/4 inch hole in a super. Even 1 inch isn't to big
Re guard less of what anyone says it doesn't hurt to drill holes in supers.
Also gives extra ventilation.

Unless you have screened bottom boards, with no bottom entrance you have no ventilation.
My Put.
doak

Michael Bush

#2
May 18, 2008, 07:20:39 PM
>Do bees need to have a bottom entrance or can they live with only top entrances? I would like to build one with only a top entrance?

Mine all have top entrances only.  It works fine.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#topentrance
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

JordanM

#3
May 18, 2008, 09:25:32 PM
Thanks for the replys. I was just wondering this because i am making an observation hive and i either need to make a lid with an opening in the front or i need to nock the hole glass bottom out of it and make a bottom board. So i am now going to just make a top cover with a gap in the front. Today i finished building all the frames that go in it. It is a 20 frames fish tank observation hive. I will post some pictures and a new topic about it when i finish.

Brian D. Bray

#4
May 19, 2008, 12:34:06 AM
I go bottomless with top entrances--that's going from one extreme to the other but it works.
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

JordanM

#5
May 20, 2008, 07:02:40 PM
So with top entrances they do not need a landing board?

Janemma

#6
May 20, 2008, 07:26:33 PM
Quote from: JordanM on May 20, 2008, 07:02:40 PM
So with top entrances they do not need a landing board?

In the wild they don't have landing boards ;) 

Bee-Bop

#7
May 20, 2008, 10:09:21 PM
Quote from: Janemma on May 20, 2008, 07:26:33 PM
Quote from: JordanM on May 20, 2008, 07:02:40 PM
So with top entrances they do not need a landing board?

In the wild they don't have landing boards ;) 

That is correct however in the wild they generaly have the rough bark of a tree to latch on too, not a slick painted vertical surface like a hive body !!

Just food for thought

Bee-Bop
" If Your not part of the genetic solution of breeding mite-free bees, then You're part of the problem "

Sean Kelly

#8
May 20, 2008, 10:25:54 PM
What about comb honey production?  I just bought my first Ross Round kit and have been reading about producing comb honey.  They say to close up all top enterances so you don't get travel stains on your comb.  This time of the year I use a tiny block of wood to prop the inner cover up a 1/2 inch or cut a groove in the front of the inner cover for ventilation and as a top enterence.  But I dont wanna mess up my comb honey.

Sean Kelly
"My son,  eat  thou honey,  because it is good;  and the honeycomb,  which is sweet  to thy taste"          - Proverbs 24:13

Janemma

#9
May 20, 2008, 10:34:02 PM
Quote from: Bee-Bop on May 20, 2008, 10:09:21 PM

That is correct however in the wild they generaly have the rough bark of a tree to latch on too, not a slick painted vertical surface like a hive body !!

Just food for thought

Bee-Bop

Perhaps so, but from everything I have been reading over the past year, it seems they are at no disadvantage without....and landing platforms are certainly not essential on a top entrance.

Michael Bush

#10
May 21, 2008, 07:18:48 AM
>So with top entrances they do not need a landing board?

They don't need one with any kind of entrance.

>What about comb honey production?  I just bought my first Ross Round kit and have been reading about producing comb honey.  They say to close up all top enterances so you don't get travel stains on your comb.

And Lloyd Spears of Ross rounds tells me he always has a top entrance (propped up inner cover with shingle shims) and no excluder...

> This time of the year I use a tiny block of wood to prop the inner cover up a 1/2 inch or cut a groove in the front of the inner cover for ventilation and as a top enterence.  But I dont wanna mess up my comb honey.

I think you're overly worried.  It's more about pulling it right after it's capped than about top or bottom entrances.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

BeeHopper

#11
May 21, 2008, 09:14:43 AM
Guys & Girls,

I've made the switch to top entrances & in my observations, it made no difference for the bees, many just flew right in while others landed on the sides and top only to walk in. The one thing that I have noticed is that the Guard Bees have an easier job protecting the hive with the 3/8 " top entrance, I can see their little heads lined up like soldiers just inside, kinda cool if you ask me. I have never noticed this when I utilized the 3/4 " side of the bottom board as the bottom entrance.  :-D
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