Mouse Guards

[mherndon]

Does anyone have any trouble with mouse guards?  I was worried that it may make the entrance difficult to clear dead bees when it gets colder.  I use them for precaution since I can't get to the hives as often as I would like. 

Mark

[bassman1977]

Only in the winter do I use them.  The bees don't seem to have a problem with clearing dead bees.

[Kent J]

I used one last year on a  1 season old hive.  They had a hard time getting bees out.  I used 1/4 inch hardware cloth.  The bees seem to get in and out fine, but as soon as they got all the holes plugged, they where trapped inside.   I removed the guard twice during the winter and used a long stiff curved wire to pull out all the deads on the bottom board.   Either way  I lost the whole hive in late Feb.  Believe it was because of a cold snap and  to much moisture. 

[Scadsobees]

I always leave the top cover cracked a little bit, they always use the top entrance by spring time anyway.  Then I can clean the bottom and they'll start using it again.

Better than the alternative (cleaning a sour-smelling deadout is full of frass and leaves and the comb is all chewed up).....