Venting

Irwin · September 17, 2009, 12:33:12 PM

venting is it better to vent to the front or back :?

Hethen57 · September 17, 2009, 01:23:06 PM

If it is screened, I don't think it matters, but I would maybe think about where your prevailing wind comes from (ours is out of the SW) and vent away from that so you don't have a constant draft.

Paraplegic Racehorse · September 17, 2009, 05:02:27 PM

Why vent? Bees survived for millenia without extra holes in their tree trunks and other nooks-n-crannies.

Condensation is a valuable water resource.

Natalie · September 17, 2009, 05:42:13 PM

Irwin when I read the title I thought you wanted to get something off your chest, like you needed to ent because you were po about something. :-D

Sparky · September 17, 2009, 05:48:48 PM

When you say vent are you talking about the inner cover, screened bottom or top entrance or what ?

alflyguy · September 17, 2009, 05:54:55 PM

I wonder how much of a vent is necessary. I live in humid Alabama. I put thumb tacks into the edge of whatever box is on top. They are easy to move when I add or remove supers and they allow a little air to vent without creating another entrance. So far it seems to work but I haven't been through a winter with them in place yet.

sarafina · September 18, 2009, 12:11:35 AM

Well, I use a couple of high-tech venting techniques........ a sliver of wood and a stick I picked off the ground to prop the top cover with when the bearding got so bad. :-D

Been trying to get hubbie to build me a box with screened holes in it for ventilation, but it hasn't percolated to the top of his "to do" list yet. ;)

I will probably remove them this weekend when I go in to sugar-dust and inspect since the temps have moderated to the 80's instead of high 90's.

buzzbee · September 18, 2009, 09:05:47 AM

Quote from: Paraplegic Racehorse on September 17, 2009, 05:02:27 PM
Why vent? Bees survived for millenia without extra holes in their tree trunks and other nooks-n-crannies.

Condensation is a valuable water resource.

But bees in trees also weren't fed sugar syrup which unnaturally raises the moisture levels in the hive. The tree also had a better ability to wick away moisture than a pine box.
But if you have a closed bottom it is best to have the vent to the same side as the bottom opening.
I have yet to see the bees propilise the notch in front of the inner covers. Maybe someone has,but it has not happened in my beeyard.

Irwin · September 18, 2009, 10:24:16 AM

Quote from: Natalie on September 17, 2009, 05:42:13 PM
Irwin when I read the title I thought you wanted to get something off your chest, like you needed to ent because you were po about something. :-D

:-D

Irwin · September 18, 2009, 10:28:02 AM

Quote from: Sparky on September 17, 2009, 05:48:48 PM
When you say vent are you talking about the inner cover, screened bottom or top entrance or what ?

I have a solid top and didn't know what was best for venting. I got them in a wind free place but not rain free.

Grid · September 18, 2009, 10:59:50 AM

Quote from: buzzbee on September 18, 2009, 09:05:47 AM
But bees in trees also weren't fed sugar syrup which unnaturally raises the moisture levels in the hive. The tree also had a better ability to wick away moisture than a pine box.
But if you have a closed bottom it is best to have the vent to the same side as the bottom opening.
I have yet to see the bees propilise the notch in front of the inner covers. Maybe someone has,but it has not happened in my beeyard.

I have two hives - Russian and Hawaiian, both with SBBs, and I have propped up the outer cover to expose the notch on my inner cover as a top entrance/vent. My bees are propolising the notch. Not closed off yet, but about 50%.

Grid.

Sparky · September 19, 2009, 11:52:47 AM

I like using a vented inner cover rather than the prop method so that other pest do not take up residence under the top cover.

sarafina · September 19, 2009, 12:41:10 PM

Quote from: Sparky on September 19, 2009, 11:52:47 AM
I like using a vented inner cover rather than the prop method so that other pest do not take up residence under the top cover.

How is the inner cover vented? Is it screened instead of solid with the oval hole in the top? Since the outer cover sits down right on top of the inner cover, how does this allow for ventilation? Did you make your own or did you buy it commercially?

We had 2 months here with temps in the high 90's and 80-90% humidity so ventilation is big concern for me and I probably need to do more than prop the covers. I already use screened bottom boards for both ventilation and SHB and mite control.

Bee-Bop · September 19, 2009, 02:02:07 PM

Here is one homemade method of venting I use, top escape is left open except when top feeding.
the inside board has 3 screened holes for top jar feeding, with no bees flying around.

Every body do their own thing in their own way !

Bee-Bop

buzzbee · September 19, 2009, 03:30:41 PM

Sarafina,
the inner covers I use have a notch in the front. When you set the outer cover over it and down all the way,you push the outer cover towards the front and it adequately leaves enough space for the notch to vent to the outside. That is one of the reasons the outer cover fits a bit loose on the hive body.

sarafina · September 19, 2009, 06:04:52 PM

Quote from: buzzbee on September 19, 2009, 03:30:41 PM
Sarafina,
the inner covers I use have a notch in the front. When you set the outer cover over it and down all the way,you push the outer cover towards the front and it adequately leaves enough space for the notch to vent to the outside. That is one of the reasons the outer cover fits a bit loose on the hive body.

I never thought about pushing the outer cover towards the side with the notch - thanks. I don't think my other inner cover has a notch, which surprised me. Guess I could get my hubbie to notch it with his router or hole saw. This winter I am either going to get him to make me a top box with screened holes for ventilation for each hive or I will make them myself.

Sparky · September 19, 2009, 10:27:08 PM

sarafina. How is the inner cover vented? Is it screened instead of solid with the oval hole in the top? Since the outer cover sits down right on top of the inner cover, how does this allow for ventilation? Did you make your own or did you buy it commercially?
The ones I make are slotted and routed out for screen to be flush with frame so not to catch on top cover. I use the Bee Max telescoping covers that are a bit larger to give some space around the inner cover. As buzzbee said you push the outer cover towards the front and it adequately leaves enough space to vent just up under the telescoping cover. Like Bee-Bop said there are many ways that each person can do things so do not be afraid to try things different. You never know until you try. You just might come up with some idea that works very well that is different than someone that only did things one way for 20 years and thought that was the only way.

Here is the side view. Notice the back is on the left that has no slot because the top cover is put tight against.

buzzbee · September 19, 2009, 10:45:36 PM

I will try to get a pic of the small vent in cover tomorrow.

Got the pic

Michael Bush · September 20, 2009, 05:16:43 PM

The main thing is you don't want the wind blowing THROUGH the hive. So don't put a vent on the bottom on one side and the top on the other side...