how much heat is to much

[danno]

Sunday while filling my top feeders I noticed that there was quite abit of heat coming out of the bee access slot.  these hives have filled the bottom brood chamber and are working on the second.  They were started 6 weeks ago.  I have screened bottom boards but still have them closed.  My enterance reducers are opened to the 5 inch slot.  With these feeders I dont have any upper vents.  We are still getting some cold nights and days are just starting to get in the 70's.  Should I off set the feeder to make a top enterance, open the bottom board or both

[Bennettoid]

Open the screen bottom board for sure. When you say cold nights, how cold are you talking?

[danno]

we had one in the mid 20's last week and many in the mid to upper 30's.  I hope spring is finally here to stay now

[Bennettoid]

I wouldn't worry about it being too hot yet, they regulate the heat real well in the hive. At the temps your at they are in no danger of over heating. Your probably just feeling escaping heat from them keeping the brood warm.

[danno]

Thanks always appreciated. Do you still think I should open the bottoms up.  They are less that a 100 feet from my house and i could close them back up if they predict winter againnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[Bennettoid]

I never put mine in. We're warmer here than you are, but regularly go into the teens and single digits in the winter and they do fine with the Screen Bottom Boards open.

[indypartridge]

Do you still think I should open the bottoms up. 

Yes. I leave them open year 'round. The only time they are in are when I'm doing a mite count.

[Michael Bush]

The core of the brood nest is 94 F no matter what the temperature is outside.  If it's 0 F or 120 F outside, it's still 94 F in the core of the brood nest.