Follower Boards

[Beepasbees]

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.

[robo]

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.

[Barbarian]

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.