Instructions for conversion

BeeHopper · February 28, 2008, 11:47:58 AM

I am converting my bottom entrance hives to Hive Top entrances, how do I go about doing it, daytime or dusk, do the bees need to re-adjust to the entrance, what is the best process :?

Thanks :)

Jerrymac · February 28, 2008, 02:50:24 PM

Any time is fine. They will find the new entrance and reorient on it just fine.

KONASDAD · February 28, 2008, 05:01:33 PM

About a week before you convert, place a blinking sign advising as to future road work and delays. Place detour signs during construction pointing to top entrance. Dont forget to raise their honey taxe afterwords for all of your hard work and improvements. :lol:

BeeHopper · February 28, 2008, 05:17:37 PM

Quote from: Jerrymac on February 28, 2008, 02:50:24 PM
Any time is fine. They will find the new entrance and reorient on it just fine.

:-D

BeeHopper · February 28, 2008, 05:19:35 PM

Quote from: KONASDAD on February 28, 2008, 05:01:33 PM
About a week before you convert, place a blinking sign advising as to future road work and delays. Place detour signs during construction pointing to top entrance. Dont forget to raise their honey taxe afterwords for all of your hard work and improvements. :lol:

You're daring me to do it and post pictures :evil:

Michael Bush · February 28, 2008, 08:03:04 PM

>how do I go about doing it, daytime or dusk, do the bees need to re-adjust to the entrance, what is the best process

I'd add the top one first and when they are using it well, reduce the bottom one to almost nothing. Then when they are using the top even more, close off the bottom. Or just go for it. They will sort it out after about a day. Do it on a day with a warm night coming up in case some slow ones don't figure it out at first.

BeeHopper · February 28, 2008, 08:49:43 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on February 28, 2008, 08:03:04 PM
>how do I go about doing it, daytime or dusk, do the bees need to re-adjust to the entrance, what is the best process

I'd add the top one first and when they are using it well, reduce the bottom one to almost nothing. Then when they are using the top even more, close off the bottom. Or just go for it. They will sort it out after about a day. Do it on a day with a warm night coming up in case some slow ones don't figure it out at first.

Thank you, sounds like a plan for me

Brian D. Bray · February 29, 2008, 03:22:21 PM

Quote from: BeeHopper on February 28, 2008, 08:49:43 PM
Quote from: Michael Bush on February 28, 2008, 08:03:04 PM
>how do I go about doing it, daytime or dusk, do the bees need to re-adjust to the entrance, what is the best process

I'd add the top one first and when they are using it well, reduce the bottom one to almost nothing. Then when they are using the top even more, close off the bottom. Or just go for it. They will sort it out after about a day. Do it on a day with a warm night coming up in case some slow ones don't figure it out at first.

Thank you, sounds like a plan for me

That's the way I did it to begin with, within 2 weeks all the bees were using the top entrance and the bottoms were sealed up. Notice the 2 weeks allows for all the old foragers using the bottom entrance to be replaced with new foragers who opt to use the upper entrance. Top entrances are a natural preference of the bees.