Author Topic: When to change the entrance reduced  (Read 2568 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline WantToBeeLady

  • Regular Member
  • **
  • Posts: 40
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Northeast Ohio
When to change the entrance reduced
« on: June 25, 2016, 10:30:13 pm »
How long do I keep the ER on the small side for this new hive?  Things seem crowded around this smaller opening, however there's still plenty of traffic. Any suggestions you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Offline Ray

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
  • Thanked: 10 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: A 1 hour drive North of Grand Rapids Michigan
Re: When to change the entrance reduced
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2016, 11:00:24 pm »
If you feel the bees need a bigger entrance, give them one. I have several hives that use a non-stock entrance reducer.  They are scrap pieces of wood that block part of the entrance, some cover half, some more and some less.

Offline iddee

  • Administrator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 6150
  • Thanked: 412 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Sophia, N. C.
Re: When to change the entrance reduced
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2016, 11:50:41 pm »
When crowded, adjust. Keep the traffic flowing evenly. No bees bumping others, nor a large area not being used.
“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 apisbees

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 3723
  • Thanked: 331 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Vernon B.C.
Re: When to change the entrance reduced
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2016, 05:46:02 am »
My rule on entrance size is not to go any wider than the width of the frames containing brood
Honey Judge, Beekeeping Display Coordinator, Armstrong Fair and Rodeo.