I've been a Langstroth beek for a few years now. My son wanted his own hive and wanted a Top Bar. I bought him a traditional one with the angled sides. First install of bees...queen disappeared, colony dwindled away but left me with 2 medium sized combs. Hive remained empty until this spring. Caught a swarm and placed in the hive with the old combs. Two days later, hive absconded I think due to one of the combs detached from the bar and fell. Screw this.
Ordered a long hive from a hive builder who had never heard of one. I specified a screened bottom with slide in panel (not using) and landing board full entrance. I also wanted a gabled roof, but he made a telescoping top instead. Nice looking hive. I took a nuc and transferred 3 frames of brood w/ stores to the TBH. Easy. Off we go!
My issue is this...yesterday was 75 degrees and the girls were on the landing board fanning...hive too hot (on a cool day!). I noticed the clearance between the top of the top bars and the telescoping cover is between 1/16" and 1/8"...not much room for air flow. I'm adding some 1/8 shims to raise the cover today, but don't want to raise much as robbing will be an issue. This is why I wanted a gabled top cover as I could add gable vents. I'm considering adding a 3/4" shim and screening some notches to aid in venting.
Anyone have ventilation issues with their TBH's? Any suggestions?
Ordered a long hive from a hive builder who had never heard of one. I specified a screened bottom with slide in panel (not using) and landing board full entrance. I also wanted a gabled roof, but he made a telescoping top instead. Nice looking hive. I took a nuc and transferred 3 frames of brood w/ stores to the TBH. Easy. Off we go!
My issue is this...yesterday was 75 degrees and the girls were on the landing board fanning...hive too hot (on a cool day!). I noticed the clearance between the top of the top bars and the telescoping cover is between 1/16" and 1/8"...not much room for air flow. I'm adding some 1/8 shims to raise the cover today, but don't want to raise much as robbing will be an issue. This is why I wanted a gabled top cover as I could add gable vents. I'm considering adding a 3/4" shim and screening some notches to aid in venting.
Anyone have ventilation issues with their TBH's? Any suggestions?