Thinking of giving bees a top entrance

[eddiedlzn]

I was thinking of giving my hive a top entrance. should I just put one of my extra bottom boards on top? Should I face it in the same direction as the bottom entrance? Is the top entrance a big advantage. I am sure it helps vent the hive. I have thought at times that there was to much traffic. Bees flying into each other. p;lease give me some advice

[Brian D. Bray]

Using the old solid bottom boards as a top entrance works fine.  I just turn them up side down.  I also block the lower entrance to prohibit robbing, peditors, or other things from sneaking into the hive. You will find that with a top entrance the bees returning to the hive will use the entire front of the hive as a landing board.  They then just walk up to the entrance.  A strong hive on a warm day will have departing foragers taking of from the top (up side down bottom) with the returning foragers landing on the hive body and walking up to the entrance.  It is actually more efficient than having the bee trying to take off and land on the same bottom entrance.

[Robo]

You will find that with a top entrance the bees returning to the hive will use the entire front of the hive as a landing board.  They then just walk up to the entrance.

That is exactly the problem I was having, so I went back to the bottom entrance.  Not only do you get a swarm of bees flying around your head looking for their entrance while you work on the hive. I found myself rushing thru inspections as the number of frantic bees flying around grows rapidly as the minutes pass.  Then I would be killing more bees as a started rushing and in turn getting the bees more upset. It is impossible to re-install super without killing bees, there is a constant progression of bees climbing up the hive trying to get to the entrance, incoming bees landing on top, and departing bees coming up thru the super.  I tried the catty corner method, the back down first, slowly slide forward, you name it I tried it.

  A strong hive on a warm day will have departing foragers taking of from the top (up side down bottom) with the returning foragers landing on the hive body and walking up to the entrance.  It is actually more efficient than having the bee trying to take off and land on the same bottom entrance.

My hives seem to depart from the bottom of the lower brood chamber (top of the entrance) and return on the bottom board. The same way only reversed.  There is little congestion.

[acbs]

eddiedlzn,

I will agree with Brian on one thing-a top entrance would make it harder for critters to get in.  I had my first trouble with a couple of hives and mice last year so I screened off the entrances.  It's a little trouble, but I have to do it only once a year and I have to deal with our bees every time I open the hive.

I've had the same problems as Robo.  I never have attempted full top entrances only, but with just a top vent at the edge of my inner covers and entrance holes in the front and back of some of my boxes, I've certainly experienced the "frantic bees flying" that Robo spoke of.  From what I've seen with these, I don't think I want to try just a top entrance.  Once my bees get used to coming and going through these alternate entrances, that's their door!!  With the boxes off they hover around the spot where their door used to be, even though those same boxes are wide open right there where they could just fly in!  I don't have problems with them being mad, just confused.  As soon as I get the boxes back in place, everything quiets down cause their door is back.  It's the same concept as when the entrance reducers are taken off in the spring.  Even though they have the whole front to come and go, for a while they'll still use that little corner that was open all winter like it was the only opening there.

In my case, it seems to cause less stress when I'm checking hives for most of the bees to be used to using the bottom entrance.  I've never noticed any problems with congestion.  (I only use three 3/4 inch holes in my top bar hives and it doesn't seem to be slowing them down any.) 

You might get by with top entrances just fine.  From what I've read on the forum many others do.  Heck, try it on yours and see what you think.  Experiment.  If you don't like it, switch back.

Nice to see someone else from Central Illinois!  We're just about 25 mile south and a little west of Springfield.

Arvin & Colleen

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#topentrance