top entrances

[sean]

for all you guys.. ok people(neutral gender here) that use top entrances, how practical does it seem for some-one thinking of commercial beekeeping
2) in terms of hives pests(sbh specifically) have you seen any reduction in infestation.
Ahm. I am sure i had more questions but i 've forgotten them  right now

[Michael Bush]

I don't have any SHB (I assume that's what you meant) so I can't respond to that.  The way I do my lids is simple and cheap and would work fine for commercial beekeeping.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm

[sean]

thanks for responding michael. I did mean shb(sorry) I was on your site but as you dont have shb's there was no mention of it. I meant practicality in terms of hive inspections, manipulations etc. Based on my reading of other posts on the subject it seems to be more traumatic for the bees and intimidating for some beeks. that aside it would be cheaper for me in that i wouldnt need to purchase covers. i could buy i sheet of ply and get about 8 tops versus 3 covers for the same amount of money.
  I am assuming that shb larvae are less adept at climbing up than in any other direction, so if that assumption is correct then i expect infestations/breeding would become negligible. but that only my reasoning. I am waiting for some-one who has/had both to respond 

[Cindi]

Michael, I like how you have branded your surname on the front of your hives by the way.  Have a great and wonderful day.  Cindi

[asprince]

Sean,

I don't quite understand your question about top entrances and SHB. The adult SHB will fly in and lay it's eggs in the pollen. The entrance location does not effect their ability to get in. If the hive is strong, the bees will chase the adults into hiding and fight off the invading larva. If the hive is weak, the larva will make a nasty nasty mess and the bees will leave the hive.

Been there, Steve

[sean]

i know the top entrance wont affect the beetles ability to get in or to lay their eggs in the hive. but normallywhen the larvae emerge they crawl out of the hive to pupate in the soil. Essentially my question is will the top entrance affect their(the larvae) abiltiy to exit the hive hence disrupting their life cycle

[asprince]

Now I understand but can't answer. My hives and nucs with top entrances also have screened bottom boards. The larva just climb or fall out the bottom.

Steve

[Brian D. Bray]

Since I have never seen SHB in my area I can't answer any questions about them.  However, I do prefer the top entrance to the accepted norm.  Top entrances along with slatted racks and screened bottom boards helps in many ways.  I get less swarming, less burr comb, and I no longer have to worry about a hive being too cold, too hot, or too much condensation inside.  All those problems are cured. 

The one draw back to top entrances (if you see it that way, I don't) is that the bees get slightly disorientated when returning to a hive with the top off.  They cloud up around the hive so that it can seem like you're inside a swarm of bees.  I personally find that sensation euphoric.  It also forces you to do quick inspections and limit tear downs or more thurough inspections, which in the long run is better for the bees--the less disruption the better the hive performs.

[sean]

if they are constructed with an over-hang/protrusion just like the bottom board would it be a problem,? i am worried about rain getting in

[Jerrymac]

I have one with an over hang. It is in fact a bottom board. I had it sitting on top of some empty hive bodies, the top one only had three frames in it, and some bees moved in. They built the comb from the bottom board cover. It is neat watching them fly into the opening. That is one of my first chores this coming spring. To straighten that out.

[Brian D. Bray]

if they are constructed with an over-hang/protrusion just like the bottom board would it be a problem,? i am worried about rain getting in

I would just turn all those no longer used solid bottom boards upside down and use them for top entrances.  I build my top entrances just that way, that way I always have a top and bottom for an unexpected swarm.  I've had absolutely no problems.  I build my hive bottoms without any entrance at all, Just an frame (a shim really) the same size as the hive body with a screened bottom.

[bassman1977]

With the top entrance, is the entrance small enough to keep mice out?  I imagine that they would still try to get in regardless of how high the entrance is.  If it is not small enough, how do you go about doing it?

[bassman1977]

I build my hive bottoms without any entrance at all, Just an frame (a shim really) the same size as the hive body with a screened bottom.

Mr. Bray, do you have a picture of a bottom board that you built so that I can see how you went about it?

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#BottomBoardFeeder

Here's some converted to be a bottom board, a feeder AND a lid.  But the principle of the lid is the same.

[Understudy]

My top entrances have not stopped SHB. But I don't use them for SHB control I use them for temprature control.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[sean]

was wonderimg what had happened to you thought the tsa folks had silenced  :evil:you