When should I install my mouse guards

[Bee man 44]

When should I install my mouse guards or entrance reducers?

[Cedar Hill]

When there are no more drones.

[Bee man 44]

So there is no certain date you are suppose to put them in like when it starts getting colder? Just check for the drones to dissapear?

[Grant]

I've gone to lining my entrances with 1/2" wire mesh to keep the mice out. I never had much luck with entrance reducers.

BTW, it's almost October and I've still got drones and capped drone cells. Don't they have a calendar?

Grant
Jackson, MO

[indypartridge]

For me, I judge more by the weather than a particular date. My bees are still very active, working the goldenrod flow. Once that's over, and the nights start getting frosty, I'll reduce the entrances.

[Ravenseye]

I shoot for the first real cold snap..even if there's not a frost, but close to it. If I'm doing a full inspection or combine, I sometimes do it then just to save another trip. I like to use the mouse guards that have holes all the way across. I can then block some of the holes as the weather gets colder to cut down on drafts...or open it back up a little if there's activity warranty more access. You can use tape, wood, etc., to change the amount of hive access across the guard.

[AR Beekeeper]

I use a 3/8 in. high entrance and I have never had mice problems. I make sure that the area around the hives are kept mowed and the hives are on a stand, but other than that, I take no precautions because of mice.

[Brent Bean]

Perhaps in areas like AR Beekeeper live in you could get away with no mouse guards, because beekeepers that far south don’t have the prolonged cold snaps that northern tier beekeepers do.
But for me if I don’t guard against mice and shrews I would see a lot of damage by march. There are times that they can’t even take a cleansing flight for a month.

[AR Beekeeper]

Yes, all beekeeping is local. My reply was for the southern beekeepers that try to keep bees as they are kept in the northern states. It seem all the beekeeping books are written for beekeeping in those areas and many beekeepers worry over problems they will never encounter.

[ScadsOBees]

My rule of thumb is when it gets into the 40s at night. The mice start foraging in the hive when the bees start clustering, but they won't stay during the day when the bees get more active.

Once the bees start clustering during the day...well then Mr and Mrs mouse make themselves right at home.

We all share the same natural and climate CUES for when the bees are doing what, we just differ on the actual calendar timing. That is why you often will see instructions tied to physical cues such as maple bloom, dandelion bloom, apple blossom, and so forth.

[2ndCharter]

This is my first year beekeeping so my response is not necessarily in tune with bee cycles. We live in a very rural area with a great abundance of monoculture type farms, corn, beans and wheat. We perform all of our household mouse-proofing in early September. Once the combines start running, so do the mice and everything you do after that is damage-control, not preventative.

[Cedar Hill]

Regardless of any other indices, the most important in the timing of the installation of mouse screens is the presence or absence of drones. A hive with drones still present, will cover and fill the mouse screen with their cadavers. This creates both a ventilation problem as well as preventing the bees from leaving. OMTCW

[bees in ballard]

Hi all,
On somewhat of a side note, has anyone had any trouble with mice gnawing through the mesh in the bottom of a SBB?
Any tips for the northwest, where it is seldom super cold but is drippy wet and 40 degrees for long stretches?
Thanks

[PCM]

If field mice can gnaw thru # 8 wire mesh;
Get a 30/30 or a 12 ga. and shoot that bugger, oh, and then post a pic. of it here.

Thanks
PCM

[bees in ballard]

Thanks for the reply, I recon I'm safe.
Check this out though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKEpO6w7spQ&feature=related
Filmed just north of me in BC, so you can see why I might be worried :)
JA

[EastSideBuzz]

Thanks for the reply, I recon I'm safe.
Check this out though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKEpO6w7spQ&feature=related
Filmed just north of me in BC, so you can see why I might be worried :)
JA

That is why they don't make VW bugs like that anymore. :rolleyes:

[bees in ballard]

ok, one more post, then I will stop hijacking this thread I promise.
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v18180870f7awzE6K#
best movie ever made imho!!!