Slatted bottom boards for top entrance hives?

[Jingles]

Would someone mind posting a pic or two of their slatted bottom boards? I looked at the plans on beesource (thanks John!) but I just can't picture it in my head! I gotta switch to top entrances cuz of these crazy mice!! Argh! Goddess knows I don't wanna do it WRONG! (that is my evil perfectionist alter ego speaking!)



Love, Marla

[suprstakr]

Mice can bee curred easily with an outdoor (female (spayed) cat , they stay home, or a piece of screen on entrance with 1/4 in holes .  :lol: I got 3 cats no mice or snakes HERE .

[Bob Delp]

I would think that a slatted bottom board above a SBB would partially erase the benefit of mites falling through the screen. You'd think that a large percentage of mites would land on the wood and be able to hitch another ride back up into the hive.

Bob

[Brian D. Bray]

I would think that a slatted bottom board above a SBB would partially erase the benefit of mites falling through the screen. You'd think that a large percentage of mites would land on the wood and be able to hitch another ride back up into the hive.

Bob

Au, contrare!  I used slatted rack over SBB and found the bearding during warm weather was almost or entirely elliminated and the hive could actually produce more honey because the entrance wasn't blocked by idle bees.  Also, the slatted racks provide a space for the bees to work while circulating air through the hive during the evaporation process--again leaving the entranced unblocked.  I like the concept so much that I finally (this spring) decided to elliminate the SBB entirely and now place my hives directly on Slatted Racks with no bottoms at all.  Bottomless with top entrances--during a warm day I have bees coming and going top and bottom with the bees leaving via the top and returning underneath.  I still the benefits of the ventilation and minor bearding as before and if the do beard it is usually on on corner of the bottomless hive and the foragers can still come and go unimpeded.

[Jingles]

I would think that a slatted bottom board above a SBB would partially erase the benefit of mites falling through the screen. You'd think that a large percentage of mites would land on the wood and be able to hitch another ride back up into the hive.

Bob

Au, contrare!  I used slatted rack over SBB and found the bearding during warm weather was almost or entirely elliminated and the hive could actually produce more honey because the entrance wasn't blocked by idle bees.  Also, the slatted racks provide a space for the bees to work while circulating air through the hive during the evaporation process--again leaving the entranced unblocked.  I like the concept so much that I finally (this spring) decided to elliminate the SBB entirely and now place my hives directly on Slatted Racks with no bottoms at all.  Bottomless with top entrances--during a warm day I have bees coming and going top and bottom with the bees leaving via the top and returning underneath.  I still the benefits of the ventilation and minor bearding as before and if the do beard it is usually on on corner of the bottomless hive and the foragers can still come and go unimpeded.

Wait. You just have slatted racks on the bottoms on top of, say, cinderblocks (well, I use cinderblocks) with a top entrance, too? What do you do come wintertime?


Love,

[Robo]

Here are some pictures of mine,  but the ones from the plans at beesource would also prevent mice.

[Jingles]

Thanks, Robo!!


Love, Marla

[Brian D. Bray]

I would think that a slatted bottom board above a SBB would partially erase the benefit of mites falling through the screen. You'd think that a large percentage of mites would land on the wood and be able to hitch another ride back up into the hive.

Bob

Au, contrare!  I used slatted rack over SBB and found the bearding during warm weather was almost or entirely elliminated and the hive could actually produce more honey because the entrance wasn't blocked by idle bees.  Also, the slatted racks provide a space for the bees to work while circulating air through the hive during the evaporation process--again leaving the entranced unblocked.  I like the concept so much that I finally (this spring) decided to elliminate the SBB entirely and now place my hives directly on Slatted Racks with no bottoms at all.  Bottomless with top entrances--during a warm day I have bees coming and going top and bottom with the bees leaving via the top and returning underneath.  I still the benefits of the ventilation and minor bearding as before and if the do beard it is usually on on corner of the bottomless hive and the foragers can still come and go unimpeded.

Wait. You just have slatted racks on the bottoms on top of, say, cinderblocks (well, I use cinderblocks) with a top entrance, too? What do you do come wintertime?


Love,

Nothing I overwinter with bottoms open.  I have, however, attached 1X1s on each side of my hive stands just below the slatted rack so that I can slide in a piece of 1/4 inch plywood if I think I need to--like in the advent of a big storm.  I've found the slatted rack, all by itself, gives sufficient insulation via dead air space to protect the bees except in maybe the most severe weather.  My stands are 4X4s cut to the length of the hive and stacked 2 high.  I place a peice of scrap lumber (ussually plywood) as a ground protector to keep grass etc out of the hive and ties the stand together better.  Bottomless hives are interesting to watch, often during good weather and a honey flow you have bees exiting the hive via the top entrance and returning through the bottomless slatted rack.  You can't believe how much the system economizes the hives efficiency until you've seen it.

[Jingles]

Thanks, Brian! :)


Love,