Holes in Hive

[BMBeeFarm]

I am just wondering how many people drill holes in the front of the hive for ventilation?

[pdmattox]

I have some boxes with holes in the front that I bought from a guy. I like them.

[BMBeeFarm]

Why do you like them?

[Kathyp]

i have holes in my upper boxes.  they vent the heat in the summer and give a 2nd opening that is easy to defend.  in the winter, i can slap a piece of duct tape over the hole.  some people like upper entrances.  i don't want them, so this works.

[pdmattox]

I like them for the extra ventilation that they get.

[Angi_H]

If you dont want them as an extra entrance you can always place some hardware cloth or some metal screen over the holes that way bees can not come in or out through there but still gives ventilation in the summertime. And then in the winter you can place some duct tape over the mesh.

angi

[Michael Bush]

I have drilled some.  I always end up regretting it...

An Imirie shim will provide an entrance anywhere you like without having to drill a hole.  A couple of shingle shims will also do the job.

It's a pain when you go to move a hive, or clear a super and forget that there's a hole somewhere.

[Scadsobees]

I have holes in most of mine.  Mostly because when I pick up swarms I staple a little peice of hardware cloth over it for ventilation, and a solid bottom and top nailed on.  Then I can just set them where I want them and peel the hardware cloth back, and presto, instant entrance.

Then when I'm ready, I can take the top and bottom off and make them a hive or combine them or whatever I want to do, don't have to do anything else right then.

[pdmattox]

The holes on mine are only on brood boxes not supers and almost all of mine are on pallets and moved by the bobcat.  The shim would let my Hive top be loose and present a problem with loading and moving. In my operation it works, for others it may not.

Happy New year!