[TheronT]

I'll be starting a hive shortly and have a lazy idea for setting up the entrances, at least at first.

A while ago, I saw a video where someone took a fallen hollow tree and put plexiglass on one side and drilled multiple entrance holes in the tree. The filmmaker then filled most of the holes with mud, the idea being that the bees would open those holes as needed. Then got a swarm to move in, and filmed the whole bit (time-lapsed).

Would this work for a KTB hive? Yes it won't be that pretty, but if I start some bees off with 1 entrance, and (for arguments sake) 5 others filled with mud wouldn't the bees be able to adjust these openings without my intervention? (Hey we need another entrance, get rid of that dirt, or, hey it's breezy, close that new one up with propolis). I also think it would be interesting to do this and see which ones they choose to open. You could test if they prefer openings on the end, or sides, or top.

Just curious if anyone's seen of/done something like this.

 

[Rader Sidetrack]

My 'lazy solution' for a TBH entrance is to just space the first bar back a bit. Photos here:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopbarhives.htm

 

[jwcarlson]

My 'lazy solution' for a TBH entrance is to just space the first bar back a bit. Photos here:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopbarhives.htm

That's what we did, makes changing the entrance size a breeze.

But I think what the OP is getting at is letting the bees control their own entrance size. All I know is an amazing amount of bees can move through a very small opening in a hurry.

A side question I have is how big of a hole can/will the bees cover with propolis?

 

[Michael Bush]

>A side question I have is how big of a hole can/will the bees cover with propolis?

It depends entirely on the genetics of the bees. Some will fill a huge hole. Some will only attempt it if the hole is quite small.

 

[onesojourner]

A while ago, I saw a video where someone took a fallen hollow tree and put plexiglass on one side and drilled multiple entrance holes in the tree. The filmmaker then filled most of the holes with mud, the idea being that the bees would open those holes as needed. Then got a swarm to move in, and filmed the whole bit (time-lapsed).

I would really like to see that video.

 

[tycobb48]

I would really like to see that video.

Me too...

 

[onesojourner]

I bet this is it:

 

[chris_nelson123]

That is pretty cool.

 

[tycobb48]

I agree that was neat