What is the thinking of all you guys and gals about using entrance reducers with SSB's & a ventilation box on top of a weak colony? My thinking is that with the ventilation on top and the SSB's that will take the place of the front entrance for ventilation and help to prevent robbing on the weak hive. What are your thoughts.
sounds good.
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I use permanently reduced entrances, they don't need all that space. If you use SBB you don't need any other ventilation.
I agree. The only real reason for a wide open front entrance is ventilation and you have that with the SBB and some ventilation on top. If you get a traffic jam you can open it up a bit.
I had another hive that I am feeding and "I" thought that I would reduce the entrance on it also. I put the reducer on and with in 15 sec. I had a traffic JAM. I removed it and let them protect it.
You can rip a piece of 1 by to 3/4" thick and then cut it any length you want. You can reduce the entrance to three fourths, half, or a fourth. I'd make one that is half the width, and try that. It's still best to have it only as large as it needs to be.
i've stuck pieces of burr comb across part of the front entrance,sometimes the bees remove it,sometimes it spurs some pretty creative entrances.
Also, when reducing an entrance to stop robbing you HOPE to cause a traffic jam because most of the traffic shouldn't be there. The ones who live there won't give up but the robbers will get tired of hovering to get in.
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