Author Topic: Question on Entrance Size  (Read 9916 times)

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Offline DMLinton

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Question on Entrance Size
« on: December 30, 2013, 03:55:45 pm »
Possibly from the dumb question department but do entrances really need to be the full width of the box?  If not, is there any sort of rule of thumb for estimating entrance width (the long dimension, that is - not the height)?

If top entrances are used on supers, how does this modify the appropriate main entrance length, if at all?

Finally, how should one determine the sizes of top entrances on supers?

I will be using exclusively 11 frame deeps until I find a good reason in my own experience not to.
Regards, Dennis
First bees installed July 1, 2014..

Offline iddee

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Re: Question on Entrance Size
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2013, 04:27:50 pm »
In winter, the entrance should be as wide as 2 bees going in at the same time.
In spring, summer, and fall, the entrance should be wide enough for the traffic to flow in and out without causing a log jam at the door.

There's your rule of thumb.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
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Offline Perry

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Re: Question on Entrance Size
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2013, 05:44:15 pm »
I am a bit more generous when it comes to openings.
Summer = 3/4" x full width, with upper entrance roughly 3/8" x 1 1/2".
Winter = 1/2" x 3 to 4", with upper entrance as above.
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Offline iddee

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Re: Question on Entrance Size
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2013, 05:52:03 pm »
WHY?
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein

Offline crazy8days

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Re: Question on Entrance Size
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2013, 06:48:17 pm »
I watch my bees.  I found out this year that a few of my hives used the inner cover 95% of the time.  I have all season covers.  http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/store/all-season-inner-cover-p-232.html  The 1 1/2" opening wasn't long enough.  It looked like a traffic jam!  I reduced the bottom just to keep hive beetles and moths out.  Others were the opposite or 50/50.  One thing I'm going to do this spring is make the top entrance  3".  Then in fall reduce it back to 1-1/2".  So, my advice..Watch you bees!
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Offline Perry

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Re: Question on Entrance Size
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2013, 09:58:31 pm »
WHY?

Upper entrances year round for ventilation and to relieve pressure at the bottom.
Larger bottom entrances in winter to accommodate my Oxalic Acid vapourizer in December. Never bothered to reduce them any further.
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