Author Topic: Screened Bottom Boards ?????? (Read 11981 times)

40 Acre Bees · « **on:** May 14, 2015, 07:49:01 pm »

We are redoing our hives as we are waiting for new bees and would like your opinions on screened bottom boards and if favourable what type. We are in Nova Scotia Canada and have quite harsh winters. We were thinking the screened bottom boards might help in mite control and counts. Thanks.. $:-\$

rcannon · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2015, 08:29:09 pm »

I started out with them, but after the second year switched to solid bottoms. I saw no advantage to them. Not to mention that they are more expensive and harder to build than solid bottoms.
I had one screen bottom that the bees had almost propolized completely closed. That tells me that they didn't like the open bottom.
To each his own, but I just don't care for them.

Riverrat · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2015, 08:34:10 pm »

I am phasing out the screened bottom boards. Think they was a fad that got my money. I have seen no advantage to them

iddee · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2015, 08:55:08 pm »

I tried them 15 years ago. I have seen grass grow through them and through two deeps. I never saw any good from them.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2015, 09:07:53 pm »

As mentioned above, plus the addition of the winds sweeping across the plains... err, fields.. 50 mph winds with no storm in sight are not uncommon, any time of the year.. I would OFTEN be rushing out to slide them shut, and back open... the greatest advantage to them here would be in late July and August when it can get to 108 degrees, the rest of the year they would only be a pain in my neck... Using OAV seems to take care of my mite problems so well that any other type of control has ( so far ) been unnecessary.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2015, 09:28:06 pm »

Same here, started with screened and phasing them out.

One of the things I noticed is that the hives didn't wanna pull the comb all the way down the frames close to the open bottom board. they just seem to not wanna be down close that open bottom.

Solids for me now.

blueblood · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2015, 09:50:39 pm »

Solid all the way...

riverbee · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:31:33 pm »

solid bottom boards for me, never used them, never wanted to...........

might work for others. but just seemed like a new fangled thing to keep bees with, just my HO.

Jen · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:46:35 pm »

I guess I'm the only one that is going to stand up for my screen bottom boards. It's how I do my mite counts and tells me when to do the oxalic treatment. I haven't a problem with them at all. However, this is the model my hubby built for me. It's a screen bottom board with a drawer underneath the screen. I staple a sticky board to the bottom of the drawer. The mites fall thru the screen and get stuck on the stick board. I pull the drawer out, clean the mites off and reinsert the drawer. So basically it's a solid bottom hive with vent holes. The drawer can also be turned upside down for the winter, so far I haven't used it that way.

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2015, 02:44:06 am »

I have a mix of solid and screened bottom boards. I have to admit, but screen bottom stays shut most of the time. When the night time temperatures begin staying warm and bearding is starting on the front , that's when I pull the closure out. Like Jen, I have used them to test for mite levels.
I have one rogue bottom board that I don't seem to have a closure that fits. I don't know what happened there. I have a beekeeping acquaintance whose quite successful and he never closes his screened bottom boards.

Perry · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2015, 06:36:15 am »

I have used them in the past but am phasing them out now. Solids are too cheap and easy to make. I also found that screened bottoms create a haven for ants and even wax moth to hide out as the bees can't get down there to control them.

Ray4852 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2015, 07:09:38 am »

Screen bottom boards for me. Easier to clean. They help my hives with more ventilation and help out with mite control. My only concern with them. Will the screen last over time with OAV treatment.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2015, 08:59:26 am »

Quote from: Ray4852 on May 15, 2015, 07:09:38 am

Screen bottom boards for me. Easier to clean. They help my hives with more ventilation and help out with mite control. My only concern with them. Will the screen last over time with OAV treatment.

Good point Ray4852... I have never thought of that till now.. the pan gets HOT... does it heat the wire enough to cause it to rust in that spot?

Ray4852 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2015, 10:45:29 am »

I slide in a piece of metal roof flashing over the screen bottom board to help protect it from high heat from the vaporizer.

Jen · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2015, 02:31:16 pm »

Perry- "I also found that screened bottoms create a haven for ants and even wax moth to hide out as the bees can't get down there to control them.

Our commercial beeks here have wax moth problems. Personally, I don't have a big problem with them, But I do get wax moth larvae and the moths stuck to my sticky boards, they are still alive and wiggling. I think in my case the wax moths get stuck there and can't make it up to the frames. In 5 years I have yet to see any evidense of wax moths inside my hives.

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2015, 06:40:57 pm »

Quote from: Jen on May 15, 2015, 02:31:16 pm

In 5 years I have yet to see any evidense of wax moths inside my hives.

Jen, you won't in a good strong hive or comb that is properly stored. In a failing hive the wax moths take over.

Riverrat · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2015, 07:27:40 pm »

Something I haven't seen mentioned. I have used both and have had queens and bees get under the screened bottom boards. They get confused and cant find there way into the hive. I have had this happen when hiving nucs and queens returning on mating flights. I haven't seen it happen with a solid bottom board.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2015, 09:20:04 pm »

You mean like this?

Jen · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2015, 09:28:30 pm »

Well ya gotta admit Yankee, that is some lovely white comb there

Yankee11 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2015, 09:41:24 pm »

You'll like this.

We inspected this hive and found no brood, larva and frames full of honey. So we thought they were queenless. So we loaded the hive in back of truck to take to home yard. We to town to have dinner with this in truck. Didn't realize this was under the bottom until we went to split the deeps and add them to different hives.

We quickly grabbed the 2 deep and reassembled the hive.