tommalia
04-28-2009, 10:07 AM
As I said in a different post, I'm trying out a TBH for the first time with a home built design.
The hive is is about 20 inches across at the top, it's about 16.5 inches deep and at the bottom it's about 16 inches wide. It's a closed bottom, not a screened bottom. It's just under 4 feet long and I've got a follower board I plan to use to regulate the actual amount of space allocated to the bees.
Currently for an entrance I've got 5 1/2 inch holes drilled right at floor level on one end if the hive. I didn't put a landing board on, though it would be easy enough to attach one if people think they are beneficial.
With this limited entrance configuration, I figured they'd have an easy time defending the hive but I'm afraid they've got no real means to fan the hive if they need to cool it.
Any recommendations on whether this is sufficient, correct, etc?
Also, I'm a little concerned about ventilation. Currently, the lid I built is a telescoping fit (like an Lang). The top bars are pretty much exactly the same thickness as the distance from the side walls to the top of the end boards of the hive. So basically the lid fits down right on top of the top bars; no space between.
So, my concern is, I haven't left any place for any air flow.
Do I need to worry about air flow? If so, what I thought I could do is just prop the lip up at the back end a half inch or so and maybe stick some toothpick spacers between the top bars to allow a little air flow between each bar but not enough space to either allow the bees to get through or to encourage them to seal it up?
:s
Can you tell I'm very anxious about all this?
Oh, I don't know if it helps but I'm located in northern Maryland USA. The summers can get fairly hot (i.e. mid to high 90's F. for several days at a time is normal in mid to late summer) winters are relatively mild.
Where I am, the honey flow is basically limited to a few weeks during the tulip poppler(sp?) bloom.
Thanks in advance,
Tom Malia
The hive is is about 20 inches across at the top, it's about 16.5 inches deep and at the bottom it's about 16 inches wide. It's a closed bottom, not a screened bottom. It's just under 4 feet long and I've got a follower board I plan to use to regulate the actual amount of space allocated to the bees.
Currently for an entrance I've got 5 1/2 inch holes drilled right at floor level on one end if the hive. I didn't put a landing board on, though it would be easy enough to attach one if people think they are beneficial.
With this limited entrance configuration, I figured they'd have an easy time defending the hive but I'm afraid they've got no real means to fan the hive if they need to cool it.
Any recommendations on whether this is sufficient, correct, etc?
Also, I'm a little concerned about ventilation. Currently, the lid I built is a telescoping fit (like an Lang). The top bars are pretty much exactly the same thickness as the distance from the side walls to the top of the end boards of the hive. So basically the lid fits down right on top of the top bars; no space between.
So, my concern is, I haven't left any place for any air flow.
Do I need to worry about air flow? If so, what I thought I could do is just prop the lip up at the back end a half inch or so and maybe stick some toothpick spacers between the top bars to allow a little air flow between each bar but not enough space to either allow the bees to get through or to encourage them to seal it up?
:s
Can you tell I'm very anxious about all this?
Oh, I don't know if it helps but I'm located in northern Maryland USA. The summers can get fairly hot (i.e. mid to high 90's F. for several days at a time is normal in mid to late summer) winters are relatively mild.
Where I am, the honey flow is basically limited to a few weeks during the tulip poppler(sp?) bloom.
Thanks in advance,
Tom Malia