Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: Beepasbees on April 09, 2018, 09:35:06 pm

Title: Follower Boards
Post by: Beepasbees on April 09, 2018, 09:35:06 pm

Can anyone provide insight on follower boards in Langstroth's? I am starting up as a new beek using 10 frame mediums and wondering if this would help  with ventilation in summers and insulation in winter. I am in the Northeast region.

Title: Re: Follower Boards
Post by: robo on April 10, 2018, 03:53:13 pm

Best thing in the north is polystyrene with no upper ventilation.  Closest you will get to their natural tree environment.  If the bees can keep the cavity warm then there is no condensation issues and they use less stores.

Title: Re: Follower Boards
Post by: Barbarian on April 11, 2018, 04:30:08 am

If you start with a small colony, you can place it against one of the side walls. A follower board can be placed at the edge of the colony. This means that the bees have a smaller space to heat and raise the brood. As the colony builds up the board is moved along and new frames are added to the colony. If you are feeding the bees then you may need to cut a new hole in the inner cover above the bees. Reducing the entrance to a small one near the bees would help.