Heat and screened bottom boards

[antaro]

Summer has finally arrived in the pacific northwest with days of 85+ degree weather.
With that in mind, I was wondering how imperative it is to have a screened bottom board on a hive to ensure proper ventilation?

I run one hive with a SBB and one without.

Thoughts?

[sc-bee]

Having screen bottom boards certainly helps with heat but as you know that is not the intended use for them. I have a mixture of the two and if heat becomes an issue (bearding etc) I prop the top cover open a little with a small twig to create an airflow. Some use small spacers bottle tops etc for props.

[KD4MOJ]

This is one of those topics (many threads).  :) Everyone will have a different story... Screen Vs. Solid.  I use them... always have... open all year round... I like 'em. But that's just me.  :-D Try it out and see what works best for you.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

[Intheswamp]

85+ temperature...is that inside with the a/c running???   :-D

I tend to over-research when I'm interested in something.  I'm a rank newbie but from everything that I've read the screened bottom boards are good features basically wherever you are.  Some benefits are fresher air, better ventilation so less fanning required and bees can do other chores (better ventilation means better moisture removal, too), less pests (even a little help with pests is good but I've seen pest decrease percentages of 10% or better mentioned..ymmv)...

SSB...I would say that it's definitely not necessary, but definitely an upgrade for the bees.

Ed

[Bee-Bop]

SSB's I use them on my hives;

True,they do help to keep the hive cooler when its hot, saves the bees a lot of energy not having to cool hive.
HOWEVER remember that the brood must be kept at about 95 degrees, so a 75 degree night or a cool rainy day, the bees have to use up all that saved energy to provide the heat for brood.

This is one of the things not often discussed with any "experienced" beekeepers on these boards.

Bee-Bop

[Intheswamp]

SSB's I use them on my hives;

True,they do help to keep the hive cooler when its hot, saves the bees a lot of energy not having to cool hive.
HOWEVER remember that the brood must be kept at about 95 degrees, so a 75 degree night or a cool rainy day, the bees have to use up all that saved energy to provide the heat for brood.

This is one of the things not often discussed with any "experienced" beekeepers on these boards.

Bee-Bop

I understand that the brood should not be chilled but from what I understand the bees do a pretty good job of that but what they can't deal with well is condensation from a "tight" hive.

It is kind of like humans.  Down here in the south the focus is on cooling, up north it's more about heating...but both areas benefit from good ventilation and moisture control.

I read (I think it was Imirie) where he had inspected a SBB hive in the winter that he had to clear the snow from around...the bees were in very good shape (I wouldn't think there was much brood at that time though).  Seems the moisture is more of a danger to the bees in the winter than the cold.

85+ temps in the wet Pacific NE...it seems to me that good ventilation would be a good thing. But, as being imperative to use a SBB I wouldn't think it is.
.
Ed

[AllenF]

I like SBB.  I run them on most of my hives.   But in nature, bees would prefer a hive hole with a solid dark bottom. 

[joebrown]

But in nature, bees would prefer a hive hole with a solid dark bottom. 

Great Point there and something that most people do not think about. I use them on most all my hives as well.

[annette]

I use all SBB here and keep them open now all year long. We get many extremes of temperatures out here. Summers go up to mid 100's sometimes, winters can get to low 20's and 30's at night for months on end.

My first year of beekeeping I had the SBB on and ended up with terrible moisture problems in the winter. Only after giving them the ventilated top inner cover, did the moisture problem go away and I never had anymore bearding in the summer as well.

[L Daxon]

With a solid bottom board, you can never make it open, but with a screened bottom board you can close it up.  So the screened bottom board gives you an option to close up while the solid board leaves you optionless.  Also, there is the IMP consideration.  You can use a sticky board with a screened bottom to take a mite count but again, no such option with a solid board. 

For me, its a no brain-er.  I used the screened bottom on all my hives and wouldn't be without it.  Screened bottom boards give me more management flexibility.