Subject: Re: Open Mesh Floors/Large Entrances Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 12:49:49 -0800 From: "Helmut,E.Garz" <hommes@olympus.net> To: BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com Hi Dave May I say firsthand that all this is relatively new if one considers the beginning of this method started in June/July 1999. Therefore it is still in development stages of observations . The history of my involvement is well known since I posted quite a few writs on that. Irrespective of the hereto unknowns pro and con as applied to the various application considerations , I would personally never go back to the "old" configuration because of the obvious advantages in respect to management. Here is some of the history as I read here and there by beekeepers and their trials . Errors I have not found as anecdotal reports indicate. However, I am one of those to try everything once if it sounds logical. Furthermore I respect anyone's observations as valid one ,even though it might be incorrect FOR A SPECIFIC LOCATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE. Or just plainly erroneous observation. The reports I read were mainly from Europe , i.e. Germany and France and of of course as I mentioned the report on Danish beekeepers and their reports which I found a couple of days ago. I have used several approaches and tentatively ( To brutally overcome my chicken hood ) opened everything to see what happens. The end result is : I do not know !!!. But only one of the colonies is reducing but there is definite evidence of intestinal problems. I will loose also that particular one. What made me do this decision ? Apparently the German beekeeper , which tested all this stuff and came up with this hardware fabric method independent of the Danes. He allegedly keeps everything open all year round since he did not incorporate the sliding ventilation / catch board. Neither has he the feature of the removable screen board either. As I understand the Danish application , it sounds like it is also open . Is the top open ? Yes, because any condensation caused by dew point formation is lethal to the bees . Other sources reported the bees in a " rain forest" and perished when they became clumps of ice when the temperature dropped below freezing ( Obviously).So, ventilation is one of the musts by whatever means. How much ? You have to consider YOUR situation and that boils down to your management practices. Once in while I move these catch boards to various open spaces . There is no evidence AT THIS TIME of any change in behavior nor any more or less dead bees outside. My bees are predominantly of the dark race . There is one lighter colony which behaves no different than the dark one's , except it is a bit more militant than the others. I have no problem with that. As far as chalk brood is concerned -- I posted some comments on that. It seems to correlate with Queens and their genetics. To sum up : There are so many bee sites on the web and different forums and all the opinions of researchers and beekeepers that it becomes very confusing , the least to say. And since a heck of a lot of it is anecdotal and therefore an individual case and also contradictory we can do nothing but stand there in awe and realize that bees do things which vary as much as the infinite universe. Happy beeing Helmut