Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance

[Rick O.]

Last year I made about fifteen inner/outer covers to have on hand.  This past summer I decided to go with top entrances on all my hives.  Has anyone come up with a way to modify an inner/outer cover to be used as a top entrance?  I have a couple of ideas, but wanted to see what has been done so far and with what success.

[tefer2]

Just cut a 3/8 by 3/4 notch on the deep side.

[Brother Dave]

this is what I am doing I have middle entrances I put a set of roofing shims under my top box to creat a 1/4 inch gap. it is easy and cheap. also it is not permanent. this is a picture where i put the shims under my inner cover

[T Beek]

Shims work fine as a top entrance that's not meant to be permanent. 

For something more permanent I cut a 2.5" notch in the inner cover, placed notch side down and reducing to the size of 2 (half inch) bees for winter.

I build my own telescopic covers.  They are deeper and wider than what can be purchased and are placed above an empty feed/vent box.  The goal is to size them large enough to fit over 1" foam insulation that is placed around my hives for winter protection.

[Brother Dave]

I plan on using shims for permanent entrances.


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[Michael Bush]

http://bushfarms.com/images/EightTenEightHives.jpg

The hive on the left has a wide notch in the inner cover which then has an empty box on top of the inner cover (and a screen on the hole in the inner cover).

[flyboy]

Last year I made about fifteen inner/outer covers to have on hand.  This past summer I decided to go with top entrances on all my hives.

I am  newbee. Just finished making 2 hives. Both were made with bottom entrances.

What is the reasoning behind top entrance?

[Michael Bush]

In winter it lets out the moisture.  In winter when dead bees pile up on the bottom, the top entrance does not get blocked.  In summer and winter, a top only entrance (no bottom) keeps out mice and keeps the skunks from eating the bees.  If you run an excluder, a top and bottom entrance keeps the bees from fighting their way through the excluder every trip...

[flyboy]

Michael, that makes a lot of sense. What are the downsides? (NPI)

[Michael Bush]

>What are the downsides?

I don't see any.