My Beehive complete

JordanM · May 01, 2008, 06:34:01 PM

Here it is. I finally got a picture of it.

Click on it for a little bigger picture.
Do you see what i mean by placing the holes on the wrong side of the hive. Will this make a difference?

pdmattox · May 01, 2008, 07:00:21 PM

What are all the holes for? I think I may have missed somthing about these holes.

JordanM · May 01, 2008, 08:23:37 PM

pdmattox, i posted a post on here earlier here it is:

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=14490.msg104458#msg104458

Brian D. Bray · May 02, 2008, 06:13:03 PM

I just don't believe in making extra holes or entrances in a bee hive. If you drilled holes on each side of those boxes the bees have an awful lot of access points to guard. I would limit my hives to a top entrance or a bottom entrance with a vent at the very top.

randydrivesabus · May 02, 2008, 06:32:49 PM

you could cover the holes with screening on the outside then get the ventilation without the invasion. they will then probably propolize sealing the holes without dowels.

doak · May 02, 2008, 06:33:43 PM

I don't have to drill any holes.
I buy seconds and the "knot" come with them :) ;)
when I do want a hole it will be in front off center, below or above the hand hold.doak

JordanM · May 02, 2008, 08:11:13 PM

I was just trying to do it like my neighbors, because there hives seem to be working perfect. I will probly try to cover a few o0f them up but will see how the bees like it. I'm getting a 3lb package arriving on May 14 and they will be started in the bottom brood box. Not with everything on top like it is right now. The holes arent on both sides they are on 1 side all the way up and im going to mix them with ones that dont have holes in them.

I added a few more pictures.

CBEE · May 03, 2008, 10:47:37 AM

When you need to move hives around all those extra holes start to become a pain in the ..... :roll:

Cindi · May 03, 2008, 11:22:35 AM

Jordon, as it goes, ask a question and you will get many answers. You have received many answers and has it overwhelmed you? I hope not. The bees will do just fine with the holes. But I would like to make a couple of points more defined.

The only downside really Jordon about as many holes as you have is: and this has been mentioned. That the bees have more entrances to guard. When the colonies are really, really big, this is not as big an issue. But when colonies are first starting out and they are building up, if there are too many holes, it is hard for them to guard all these holes. This is where it must be a judgement call on your part. Is your colony strong enough to guard multiple entrance points? A typical colony has an entrance at the bottom or top or both bottom and top. During the times when the bees are not overly strong, like coming out of winter for example, many people have kept the entrance reducer on so that the bees from stronger colonies don't come and rob out a weaker colony. That can happen. Like when there is a dearth of nectar, the stronger colonies will undoubtedly find the weaker colonies and rob out their stores. That is what bees do, it is survival. That is why it is important when having multiple colonies in an apiary to keep the colonies equalized in numbers, that way there is not as big an issue with robbing. I hope my clarification on this may have helped a little bit more. If you need more answers still, ask, you need to be fully satisfied with a question asked, for one's own peace of mind. Have a wonderful day and best of this day too, Cindi

JordanM · May 03, 2008, 05:36:57 PM

Thanks Cindi and everyone for your answers.

I was planning on covering the holes when i get the package and opening them when there is a honey flow that way the beess can get the nectar in there as fast as possible and not have to go through all the boxes.

To clarify i was going to keep the holes shut until the bees were stronger and when theres a honey flow, not all the time. Does that sound better?

JordanM · May 06, 2008, 07:25:58 PM

Could i use scotch tape and put it on the inside the hive with the stcky side facing out? Would the bees eat it and tear it down? Is scotch tape poisonious to bees?

pdmattox · May 06, 2008, 09:29:48 PM

I wouldn't use tape, they would probably chew it off and not sure about poison but would not want them to eat it. I would use some screen or dowel to cover the holes as others have said.

MustbeeNuts · May 06, 2008, 11:19:06 PM

YOu can take a small piece of tin, punch a small hole in it. put a screw in the hole just to snug it up. when you want to open the hole slide it over and it should stay there, slide the other way to close. bees wont eat it, it'll last for ever. could make for good ventilation as well in the hotter months. ??

JordanM · May 14, 2008, 05:14:31 PM

Ok, i cut some dowels for the holes and plugged them. Tommorow im going to pick up my package bees and install them, wish me luck.