Entrance reducer

[New in KY]

March 31 installed two packages of bees in new medium 8 frame supers. Entrance is reduced to about an inch per instruction. Now the bees are returning from flights and having to fly around before finding space to re-enter. Do not think they are robbers as they are allowed to enter. We have checked and our Queens had been released. Plan on checking things out this weekend and wondered if the entrance should be enlarged. We are using a front feeder with the syrup. They have used 3 quarts each thus far but the trees are abundant in our area and we think pollen is available for them. Appreciate comments as this is a new venture for us.

[Michael Bush]

Anytime they are not robbers and there is a traffic jam at the entrance, I enlarge it.

[Russ]

Watch the hive closely as the Boardman feeders are know to start Robbing. Dale

[BjornBee]

Enlarge the entrance over time so there is no back-up. Keep a good check on the entrance however as your package will actually decrease in strength/numbers until new brood emerge. This will take 3-4 weeks.
You can usually tell when robbers are a problem as many times a number of them will always try to find other entry points into the hive. Bees trying to get up under the cover, and bees searching the sides and back of the hives.

[New in KY]

Thank you for the information especially how to identify robbers and the reminder that the bees will decrease before they increase. Will need your advice in the coming weeks as there will be many questions