[pcelar]

I was wandering how many of you have both, lower and upper hive entrances opened?
How many of you have only upper or lower entrances opened? Thanks, pcelar.

 

[Beeslave]

The hives I do over winter I leave the bottom entrance wide open but shielded from direct wind. I also allow ventilation holes at the top with an area big enough for the bees to use in case the bottom gets plugged with dead bees before I can get them cleared.

 

[Omie]

I have both top and bottom front entrances open- each entrance is a width of about 1 1/4 inches.

 

[bigeddie]

Same as Omie

 

[ArtD]

Entrance reducer on bottom with 4 openings 1/4-3/8 square and upside down inner cover on top. I had to screen the top this fall because the yellow jackets fly in much cooler weather and were getting in the top and upsetting the bees. Temps are single digits +/- now. It's still screened and I'm sure the bees won't mind for a while.

 

[Alex Cantacuzene]

Our hives have the bottom entrance open, the screened bottom board open and on the top modified Tim Arheit inner covers upside down with ventilation holes closed and one three-quarter inch sloped upper entrance open. They have sugar rations a la Mountain Camp on the top frames. We are hoping for strong survivors. Take care and have fun

 

[alpha6]

Upper and lower...though the lower tends to get filled with snow and I can't get out for a couple of days to clear it at times.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/3135180345/

 

[camero7]

I run only top entrances year round.

 

[jdpro5010]

Wide open bottom entrance and Tim Arhiet (honeyrunapiaries) inner cover with insulation in them and a 3" x 1/4" opening in top cut into them for top entrance.

 

[Michael Bush]

I have only top entrances year round. I reduce them for winter down to about 1/4" by 2 1/4".

 

[Ravenseye]

Lower reduced and mouse guarded. Flipped inner cover and added homasote with a space cut into it accommodating the hole in the inner cover. This for ventilation.

 

[Paraplegic Racehorse]

Bottom entrances only, year round. Warres not reduced (3/8" x 4"), Langs reduced to 3/8" x 2" approx. Langs have no inner covers - useless items - and are shimmed with fondant. Warres are being given "tough love".

 

[beevet]

Both top and bottom ent., fiberboard between inner and outer covers, screened bottom only.

 

[Jeffzhear]

I was wandering how many of you have both, lower and upper hive entrances opened?
How many of you have only upper or lower entrances opened? Thanks, pcelar.

I set my hives up differently if they are NUC's or full size, but both have lower and upper entrances. For years I did what I thought was right (pre-Beesource Forum days). Then I did what you have done here, I "Polled" the folks on Beesource and then decided what I wanted to do and went and did it. I picked a few folks responses from here that have similar weather conditions and hive set-ups as me, who are successful, like Mike Palmer and took their advice to which I am grateful. The big change I made was to open up the inner cover entrance.

My hives are set-up with lower entrances, typically 3/8" with either two full, or one full and one medium. I reduce the lower entrances and vent the inner cover...I also insulate, and on light hives, use the dry sugar method of providing additional feed if necessary.