Long entrance extenders

[sifuz]

Has anyone had any experience with long entrance extenders.  Essentially I wanted to move my hive, but it would be near my patio.  So I wanted to create an extended tube entrance that had the bees entering high up and then going down a tube into the hive.  I have seen things like this at local forest preserves.  Would that screw up the hive?  Any info would be appreciated.

[sloshire1]

The only thing that I would be worried about is where the bees go from the top of the tube.  Most of the time they stay at the same height as their exit point from the hive, so they may have to go farther to find food at different heights.  I'm not sure how high you want to make the tube, but you need to make sure that you aren't sending the bees directly into people's heads should they be tall enough.  Why do you want to move them to the patio?  That would be a little too close for comfort for me.

Chris

[Vibe]

The only thing that I would be worried about is where the bees go from the top of the tube.  Most of the time they stay at the same height as their exit point from the hive, so they may have to go farther to find food at different heights. 
Chris

Mine do not seem to follow this type of flight path. But I have trees near the hives. My bees tend to leave the hives, going right into a vertical spiral until they clear the trees. Many of then DO make their return approaches at entrance level, and a casual passerby might get binged in the head by the incoming workers....but it's just a head butt and not a sting attack.

[danno]

Unless you dont have room I dont understand why you would want them so close with the enterance so far away.  There would be no observations made.  Just a wooden box with a pipe stucking out of it running somewhere.  As for the height of a enterance just think about the bee's on rooftops in new york.  They will find flowers.  I saw pics of a observation hive in some guys office that had a 2" pvc pipe running to the top of the building 15 to 20 ft up that work for him

[caticind]

To my thinking the problem is more that such a long tube will inevitably get clogged with dead bees or debris...

[AllenF]

Keep you tube, pipe, hose, that you are using as straight as possible and it will work just fine.   I would worry about your hive getting enough ventilation.   Do you have screened bottom?   Enough air in the hive is important.  Just like in an observation hive.

[sifuz]

I was thinking of moving it near the patio becasue I live on a corner lot so anywhere else and I have neighbors complaining it is too close to the sidewalk  or too close to their property.  So I was thinking this would help.  I do have a screened bottom.  I was thinking of creating a little trap door so I could clean out the tube if it gets cloged with dead bees.
Thanks

[wouldliketobee]

I don't know what your situation is but I put my hive inside an old dog kennel (without a dog ) with the entrance facing a  6 foot wooden fence panel , my bees simply fly up and over the panel out of  the walking path...............

[caticind]

That's a nice solution!

[Michael Bush]

Jim Fischer recommends a string running the length of the tube for a ladder and a path.  It sounds like a good idea.  I have seen issues when they are longer, but the bees usually figure it out and live with it...