I have the same thing going on with a hived swarm. I supose they will start to use the main entrance when the populatio builds.
Have you seen any difference in over-wintering success, vigour, spring buildup, moisture control, anything else between the top entrance and bottom entrance colonies?I run both and find the bees always favor the top entrance.
I was going to respond to your earlier post about them always preferring the upper entrance. I leave an upper entrance on most of my hives over winter. A few will start using it as the main entrance, but most (90%+) use the bottom entrance. I prefer them to use the bottom entrance. I have one hive right now that exclusively uses the top entrance and it's like standing in a cloud of bees. They land all over me and seem to backup their landing schedule into a big cloud of bees while I am in there. Also, I face the guard bees opening the top. I prefer working at the back door rather than the front door.Funny, put supers on about 10 hives that had been using the top entrance almost exclusively, today they were all using the bottom entrance. First time this has happened to me. I really don't care as long as they keep making honey.
When I take the cover off the bees come and go as usual. Don't notice a significant difference as long as I'm behind the hives. I have one yard where I have to work them from the front. Still not a real problem for me.Also, I face the guard bees opening the top. I prefer working at the back door rather than the front door.
I have visited your site and enjoy your information! I have a question about your top entrances/design. I noticed that there is only the 1/2 inch plywood cover. Do you not put any fancy tin roof or otherwise? I'm assuming you feel it's not necessary? Also, the two shims you put in (in picture where you were gluing them -what kind of glue do you use?) And do the shims interfere with bee space on the top of the frames? Thanks!>Have you seen any difference in over-wintering success, vigour, spring buildup, moisture control, anything else between the top entrance and bottom entrance colonies?
"At this date (April 1949) the evidence has piled up overwhelmingly in favor of the upper entrance, either at the top or part way down..." --ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture page 236 32nd edition
Some quotes here:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#topentrance
And more on top entrances here:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm