Subject: Re: Open Mesh Floors/Large Entrances
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 21:50:45 -0000
From: "Lucinda Sewell" <lucindajohn@sewellhome.freeserve.co.uk>
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com>



Hi Dave, and all,

Was it Bee-L, Lloyd Spear ? I never did start a folder for OMF, after
watching things falling down the side of an observation hive I decided that
mites that dropped through the mesh were dead before they started bouncing
off all the bees on the way down! I think they cure damp problems, and
ensure ventilation, hence contributing to healthier bees.

I'm going to use OMF after a fashion this year, I'm only making 9" National
frames (pls don't ask what size boxes) and am going to utilise some National
supers as broods if I run short of boxes. On the lower of the 2 supers I'll
tack some mesh about an inch below bottoms of frames. Drill a few cork size
entrances and experiment with floors/totally open scenario. Handy when
you're moving around, that uninterrupted ventilation.

Never dreamt of them letting in too much heat! That sounds like paradise
from here Dee. I was outside in a t-shirt in sunshine yesterday. Even
sweated a bit. Problem was I was helping move TONS of topsoil by hand....

and it was SNOWING!

John
nearly an inch of ice in the rain gauge in Reading
Sunny South East England