My new hive top enterence

[sfisher]

I thought I would post some pictures of how I made my hive top enterence. The idea came from M.B. website.

First I purchased 15" cedar shims from Home Depot for $4.
002 (800x600).jpg

I also purchased a 1/4" 3' piece of wood for $1.
004 (800x600).jpg

I trimmed the shims with a utility knife. Stained and varnished them, and tacked them on top of the super.
005 (800x600).jpg

008 (800x600).jpg

Did the same with the 1/4" piece of wood, then tacked it on the front of the super.
009 (800x600).jpg

011 (800x600).jpg

012 (800x600).jpg

The bees like their new front porch.
013 (800x600).jpg

014 (800x600).jpg

015 (800x600).jpg

016 (800x600).jpg

Thanks Steve

[GeezLouise]

Those look too pretty for bugs ;-)

[Tazcan]

Beautiful craftsmanship.

[Michael Bush]

Here's why I would do it differently:
o The box is now a special box. I hate special boxes. When you want to add another box you have to take that into account.
o I don't like landing boards. They probably don't cause too much problem up high, but down low they just help the mice and do nothing for the bees. I like my hives to have nothing protruding so I can back them all up next to each other or tie them on a trailer without things getting in the way.

But it is beautiful.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm

[sfisher]

I started out first with just the shims, but I saw the bees having a problem when the were comming in for a landing. Some of the bees comming in would land on another bee, and they would both fall to the ground. I then decided to try the landing board. I know I will have a problem when I take the hive top feeder off. The part of the hive top that overlaps the top box, will cover the landing board. I will have to move the box with the landing board down one box, for them to be able to use the landing board.

[Michael Bush]

Mine just fly straight in the door...

[sfisher]

Mine might not have it figured out yet, the top enterence is not even a week old.

[buzz abbott]

my top entrances are decayed corners of old boxes. The bees seem to like them just fine.

[Michael Bush]

My last batch of covers are just a piece of plywood and I slide it back 1/2" from the front... The bees in them are doing great.

[bsquad]

Any problems with rain coming in Michael?

[tucker0104]

How are you going to cover the entrance during the winter? Does this help them feel less crowded?

[Michael Bush]

>Any problems with rain coming in Michael?

My latest batch of covers are just cut the size of a box with no shims and I slide it back 1/2" to make the entrance that faces straight up. No problems with rain. It just runs down the inside of the front of the hive. The more overhang you have the more it catches the wind and the the rain follows the wind in...