Migratory covers

[Jim Lowery]

I want to go to Migratory covers.What type of plywood should I use?

[Keth Comollo]

I have had great success so far with Advantec subflooring material in 3/4". Cheap, perfectly flat every time, cuts like butter and you don't need to paint it.

[Jim Lowery]

Thanks ,do you paint the top

[westernbeekeeper]

I use 3/4" plywood with a great resulting product. I paint them; they last a while longer.

[Keth Comollo]

Thanks ,do you paint the top

Nope, so far they seem fine without paint. I did paint a few of the nuc tops that I made just to make them look nice but don't think it needs it. Others claim to have used this stuff for years without any sign of water damage. So far so good for me.

I am going to start making bottom boards out of it soon.

[mmiller]

I use 3/4" plywood with a great resulting product. I paint them; they last a while longer.

Same here.

[gmcharlie]

I am getting away from them. to hard to control air flow summer or winter. Just me, but in southern IL I am getting rid of all of them. I had about 50 of the cypress covers from rossmans. going back to inner covers and teloscoping.

[FlowerPlanter]

It is chip board will it hold up? $27 a sheet at lowes

They also have int/ext plywood for $30 a sheet.

Would plywood work better?

[westernbeekeeper]

DON'T use chipboard. Get the plywood! Plywood will last about 46 times longer.

[throrope]

Like above, I like Rossman's cypress wooden ware, but the panels in my one migratory top expanded and contracted with rain & humidity creating gaps that leaked. I just covered it with 20" aluminum flashing at about ten bucks for a 10 ft roll. I also made one from scrap plywood, 3/4 or 5/8 and covered that with aluminum. The plywood shouldn't warp and the aluminum should keep rain out. We'll see how it goes. Otherwise I have telescoping with aluminum and galvanized tops and inner covers. One's made with a Masonite panel and looks fine for the long haul.

I did have a telescoping top without metal cover, but that suffered the same as the above migratory and we enjoyed it in a campfire.

[Vance G]

Mine are 3/8 cdx plywood I get ten out of a sheet and with some strips of one by demension lumber to give room for a pollen patty and to keep them from warping, They are cheap and I build in an entrance. PM me for picture if you want I am not smart enough to post one.

[Jim Lowery]

Thanks for all the info.I've got 2 hives I got last year and want to try migratory covers with a top entrance so Thanks again.