reduced entrance too soon?

rookie2531 · October 23, 2014, 07:40:20 PM

News said lows were going to be 37 last night and we have only been in 50-60 during days, so I reduced the entrances down to 3/4" and today highs got in 70's now hearing highs for the next 5 days , in the 70's up to 79. Checked them out today and there was a huge jam. Thinking of opening back up. There tops were open, but they were not using them.

don2 · October 23, 2014, 09:32:40 PM

I would leave at least 1/3 rd or 1/2 of the entrance open till temps get into the low 30's at night. If they are still foraging 3/4Th inch could cause a log jam. :)

biggraham610 · October 23, 2014, 09:44:05 PM

logjams are better than robberies.......... just sayin, around here, if I have one open 1/2 its gonna be a melee. I dont have much more than an inch and a half, much more starts the battles. G :chop:

jalentour · October 23, 2014, 10:09:58 PM

I had to close down to 1 inch, robbing is terrible now. I'll open up a few hours this weekend to let them clean. Maybe.

10framer · October 23, 2014, 11:06:21 PM

strong hives don't usually get robbed. i rarely reduce mine at all. are you guys feeding?

jalentour · October 23, 2014, 11:22:51 PM

Yes, I was feeding, done now.

don2 · October 24, 2014, 12:23:07 AM

I was feeding till the golden rods came in. I wait till almost sundown to replenish the feed. no robbing so far. One colony I don't have to feed, the other will get it when it needs it. I will add to what I posted earlier, Go with what works for you and your bees in your area.
Different geographical areas are like fingerprints, no two are the same. d2 :)

biggraham610 · October 24, 2014, 09:52:14 AM

Quote from: 10framer on October 23, 2014, 11:06:21 PM
strong hives don't usually get robbed. i rarely reduce mine at all. are you guys feeding?

Yes unfortunately....... no fall flow, still.......... Its supposed to be nice I will probably open em up a bit tomorrow and watch. G

rookie2531 · October 24, 2014, 10:38:32 AM

My hives are up to weight and all seem strong. I was feeding , then stopped about 20 days ago. I'll have to keep an eye on them if it is warming up and no nectar coming in.

BeeMaster2 · October 24, 2014, 12:39:47 PM

Rookie,
I keep my hives reduced down all year long. large hives are about 2" x 3/8", small hives I use the 3/8" x 3/4". I will slide the reducer out to open it on the large hives during heavy flows. I have had a large hive get robbed out right after it swarmed.
Jim

texanbelchers · October 24, 2014, 02:59:44 PM

What is the impact of too small an entrance? It seems it could impact air flow and thereby hive temperature/humidity and overall temperament. Does it slow the field bees down enough to impact production significantly? Could a small entrance discourage swarming/absconding or are they committed once the collective moves that direction?

GSF · October 24, 2014, 10:23:31 PM

tex; From what I've read, once they make their mind up to swarm they'll swarm regardless. There's a guy in our bee club that's been in it for years, he swears by the smaller entrance. Smaller being big enough only for two or three bees.

That wouldn't have worked on some of my hives during the gr flow. I had nothing in the entrance on a couple of them and they were still falling over each other.

don2 · October 24, 2014, 10:38:00 PM

I am in central Ga. About the only time I go less than about 3 inches is when robbing occurs. then down to less than an inch. most times mine are half to full open, winter and summer. But remember, weaker colonies should have smaller openings. Put your food refills on just before sundown, most of the outside smell will dissipate during the night. :)d2

rookie2531 · October 25, 2014, 06:33:36 AM

I'm going to leave it small. It is slowing them down a bit and maybe even causing drifting, but other than that, no harm. It is still getting chilly at night and my real consern is the mice, but if it helps robbing not get started, then that's probably worse than the mice.

I never had to have them open more than 4" x 3/4". I guess I haven't had a real strong hive yet.

BlueBee · October 25, 2014, 07:34:56 AM

My entrances are a slot 9mm tall so I never have to worry about mice, but I do eventually reduce the slot length down in Nov or December as the cold really sets in. While it might not be much of a problem in wood hives, if the entrance is reduced too early in an insulated (foam) hive, the hives just get a little too warm and I often get a lot of bees hanging around outside the hive on/under the landing board. Populations are high this time of year. All is good until we get a cold rain and it kills those bees hanging around outside the hive. I haven't reduced anything yet and we've had a couple of killing frosts up here.

The OP is probably fine keeping the entrance reduced, but just monitor that you don't have a bunch of bees hanging around outside the box when a real cold wave pushes down your way. Bees just aren't as smart as you might expect when it comes to being outside in the cold rain.

jayj200 · November 05, 2014, 11:23:58 AM

blue
one mouse I caught in Texas was no bigger than a Palmetto bug.
actually smaller

GSF · November 05, 2014, 09:35:08 PM

<My entrances are a slot 9mm tall> Is that for projectiles?