migratory top feeder hole plug ?

[malabarchillin]

What do you use to plug your migratory top feeder holes when you are not feeding ?
In Fla a empty mason jar lid would rust in no time and my holes are to large for that anyway.
Thanks
Mike

[Kathyp]

are you talking about the hole in the inner cover?
http://www.beecare.com/indexDynFrames.htm?http://www.beecare.com/Hardware/Inner-Cover.htm&1
the migratory cover goes over that. 
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=migratory&txtsearchParamCat=ALL&txtsearchParamType=ALL&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch

http://www.ontariobee.com/4_resources/teachers.htm

[malabarchillin]

Many (most, all ?) people that use migratory covers do not use inner covers like those that use Telescoping covers. In Florida it is said that the inner cover is just a place for SHB to hide and breed. Some (mine) migratory covers have holes cut in them to allow inverted mason type feeders. I was looking for a elegant solution that allows a watertight fit and easy removal for feeding.

[pdmattox]

Everyone I know uses a  unused lid in the hole. you can put some wax scrappings in it to keep water from going through the holes.

[malabarchillin]

thanks for the reply. I bought these covers and the holes are too large. Lids would fall through.
I could RTV a piece of alum, but I wanted a solution that I could more easily remove and install more often.

[Kathyp]

ah, funny how different area do different things.  here, most use both.   we have (so far) no problem with SHB.  we do have nasty, cold, wet, weather.  having both helps with moisture control, etc.

[pdmattox]

I think I know what you are  talking about.  There are two different size lids, small and large. Jacksonville has a place that makes the bigger ones but it is hard to get them. Take a square piece of metal and a screw. Put the screw in just one corner and the cover will slide out of the way when it is needed. No inner covers here in florida Kathy.

[malabarchillin]

thanks
Similar to one of Tillie's questions. I assume that they will propolize the pivoting cover in a day or 2 to
prevent rain water from flooding the brood nest ?

[pdmattox]

Yes, they seal it up pretty good. I had bought some lids with this mod already done and it worked pretty good.

[dlmarti]

This guy uses a single hole for his mason jars.

[DayValleyDahlias]

I just cover the holes in the migratory tops with a small square of sheet metal...I put a 4x4 brick on top of that, as sometimes I like to look in there...I just lift the brick, remove the metal, and there we have it!

[Kathyp]

does someone sell the covers with holes cut, or do you do your own?  i did a quick search and didn't find a source.

[malabarchillin]

I believe that mine came from Dadant. I think that they also have something (fiberglass ? ) laminated to the wood. The holes were predrilled.

[pdmattox]

They cut the holes with a 70mm hole saw.

[Cindi]

does someone sell the covers with holes cut, or do you do your own?  i did a quick search and didn't find a source.

Kathy, do you ask this because you may want to cut a hole in your inner cover?  I am posting a picture of a hole that my Husband cut in my inner covers, so I can add an Imirie shim for feeding.  The hole is normally cut in the centre, so a pail or jar can be inverted on top.  But because I feed only now with the gallon or quart Ziploc baggie (only Ziploc because I trust the seal on the baggie), he cut the holes on the end of the inner cover to accommodate laying flat the baggie.  A gallon baggie fits very nicely on the top of the inner cover where the hole is not.  He used some kind of thing (hee, hee, I am clueless when it comes to woodworking) to drill the hole.  I then nailed a small piece of wood across it for ease of removing the plug when needed.  In this picture I had also placed an extra pollen patty (along with the one that I had on top of the frames in the broodnest. 

This Imirie shim also allowed me to place whole heaping amounts of the cappings and remenants from the stuff I scraped off the frames after I had done extractions/crush and strain.  The bees totally cleaned up the cappings, etc. then I made wax from this.  I hope that this is what you were queerying.  I only opened up the plug just a little bit, enough for just a couple of bees to get through and boy did they ever.  Beautiful day in this beautiful and great life.  Cindi

[Understudy]

Go to Home Depot and buy a 4x4 box blank cover. In trade slang it is a 1900(nineteenhundred) cover.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Kathyp]

cindi, i was just curious.  i have inner covers with holes.  i have many of them from the bulk buys i made earlier.  i was just wondering about these for later.  i can see how they would be an advantage in the summer.  also  curious about how different people do things.  :-)

[Ross]

I just lay a piece of scrap wood over it.  The bees don't really care. 

[BenC]

4x4 box blank cover. 

like this:

[Understudy]

Yes those are octagon covers. They will work just fine. :)
Painting is optional :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan