Cleats and Robbing Screens

[Jen]

Have run into a dilema on using robbing screens on medium boxes. I like these robbing screens and paid $15 a pop for them, I would like to continue using them. However, hubby and I have learned two things...

I like having cleats on my boxes because I get a better grip when lifting them. You can see that on the bottom deep, we have to move the cleat up a bit for the robbing screen to fit. That's not a problem. But on the second pic, on the medium, there is no room to move the cleat up because of the how the lid drops down.

Do robbing screens have to be somewhere around 6 Inches? for the bees sake?

Medium boxes are 6 5/8
Robbing screens 6

[tbonekel]

I see your dilemma. Since you have such little space at the back, you are limited on how you approach the hives for inspection. For just the mediums, could you move the cleats to the sides of the hives?

[tefer2]

Main reason I don't use cleats on my boxes, Jen

[Jen]

Yep, I see that Tefer, But I prefer the more dependable grip. 

[iddee]

One more vote for deep brood chamber. Thank you, jen.   

[LazyBkpr]

lol   Cleats also get in the way when wrapping the hive for winter.     But yeah, I was going to suggest moving the cleats to the sides as well.

[Jen]

Hmmm, darn.... I thought I was going get some real brilliant ideas here ~
   


Okay, but this was my question:

"Do robbing screens have to be somewhere around 6 Inches?"

"Can they be 4 inches?"

[LazyBkpr]

Yes, they can, all they have to do is stop the robbing bees from zooming into the entrance past the guard bees.

[Jen]

Well that solves it then hubby said that he can cut the existing screens down to 4 inches. That would be perfect. Thanks Scott
 

[Jen]

We reconfigured cleats, robbing screen, and lids for our mediums.

Slimmer cleats, 4 inch robbing screen, looser lid so bees can get up into the upper entrance of the inner cover.



Have we forgot anything?

[tedh]

Looks good to me!  Ted

[G3farms]

some kind of weather proof covering on the outer cover, flip your inner cover over, bottom board and of course bees!

[Jen]

Thanks!

G3, that's why I called it a prototype    Have plenty of painting left to do. I'm real happy with this new configuration.