Entrance reducer

CountryBee · July 14, 2010, 06:07:21 PM

One of my hives is a new nuc this year and they just about filled a deep super out. So I will add another deep soon. I have reduced their entrance to about 1" wide since they were a 2 frame nuc (they were always in a 10 frame deep). When can I open the entrance and how much? What are your experiences with when and how much? I want them to grow as much as possible now that we are in the clover flow but don't want them robbed or the queen killed from one of my stronger hives right next to them. Thanks :)

iddee · July 14, 2010, 06:57:04 PM

Depends on the number of bees going in and out. If they are waiting to get in, give them a larger entrance. If not, don't. All you need is enough to take the traffic flow without jamming up the entrance.

Chick · July 14, 2010, 08:42:18 PM

You need to consider ventilation, in hot weather.

CountryBee · July 14, 2010, 09:27:55 PM

They look like they are all waiting on the outside but I don't know if they are robbers or the same hive. How do I tell? :-\

iddee · July 14, 2010, 10:04:34 PM

This is robbing......

beekeepingnoobs · July 14, 2010, 10:14:14 PM

@iddee- I'm interested in the behavior aspect. How can you tell this is robbing behavior? Is it because they aren't making moves to enter the colony?

iddee · July 14, 2010, 10:22:41 PM

It's because they are entering, fighting, covering the hive and air, all over the ground, and all on a weak hive with no more than 6 frames of bees.

beekeepingnoobs · July 14, 2010, 11:04:48 PM

Thanks for the reply.

CountryBee · July 14, 2010, 11:08:51 PM

Should I still use a reducer with 8 full frames?

danno · July 15, 2010, 08:41:21 AM

this time of the year I like a full open bottom board with a robber screen, open about 1" on one end

jgaito · July 15, 2010, 09:09:27 AM

Quote from: CountryBee on July 14, 2010, 09:27:55 PM
They look like they are all waiting on the outside but I don't know if they are robbers or the same hive. How do I tell? :-\

like this ?

this hive is like this every afternoon. the other not so much. this is also the aggressive hive. they've killed three carpenter bees that i know of.

iddee · July 15, 2010, 10:19:56 AM

The difference in the two pics. The one robbing has hundreds of bees in the air and all around. The bearding hive bees are just lounging.

jgaito · July 15, 2010, 11:24:21 AM

Quote from: iddee on July 15, 2010, 10:19:56 AM
The difference in the two pics. The one robbing has hundreds of bees in the air and all around. The bearding hive bees are just lounging.

iddee, why do you think there is such difference between these two hives ? are they so much better prepared or populated that they don't need to be foraging or is this an abundance of guard bees ? this hive is almost twice as productive and was a month or more ahead of the other in needing a second deep. mean too.

iddee · July 15, 2010, 11:57:33 AM

The same as in winter, the cluster expands and contracts with the temperature. When it expands to the limit of the box, it continues outside. I like to see the beards in hot weather. It is an indication of a strong hive.

Bearding is just the hive bees when it's too hot to go inside. Robbing is just what it says, every bee in the neighborhood robbing out the weak hive.

jgaito · July 15, 2010, 12:16:57 PM

Quote from: iddee on July 15, 2010, 11:57:33 AM
When it expands to the limit of the box, it continues outside. I like to see the beards in hot weather. It is an indication of a strong hive.

makes sense given the nature of this hive and what i was hoping to hear. the other beards a bit at the peak of the daily temps but nothing like this one. i've been feeding the other a bit hoping to help them catch up. i put their second deep on two weeks ago.