I have at times screwed a small board to the side of the top box such that it blocks part of the top entrance.
Question about Michael Bush's top entrance shims and reducing entrance.
I am using Michael Bush's idea of construction shims on covers for a top entrance. A little glue, a few staples and they work just great!
My question is on the reduction of entrances when desired and how he does it? I currently use either duct tape or a wooden piece I cut and put a small brad in for a handle to reduce the space.
Anyone out there using these shims for a top entrance and how do you reduce them when necessary?
kq
My question is on the reduction of entrances when desired and how he does it? I currently use either duct tape or a wooden piece I cut and put a small brad in for a handle to reduce the space.
Anyone out there using these shims for a top entrance and how do you reduce them when necessary?
kq
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
I just find sticks about the right diameter and stick them in the entrance. I have also cut wood pieces that fit.
I cut wood strips the same thickness as the opening and tack them onto the underside of the lid as needed to restrict the entrance size.
You can either cut some 1/4" thick stock and cut a reducer or buy some screen molding (1/4" x 3/4" molding). Cut it about 2" short of the opening and put one nail in the center for a pivot.
My hives are all top entrances with 3/4" shims. I rip a 3/4 board on the table saw to 1" and cut it the width of the opening. Then I cut a section out about 3/4" long halfway through it. Then move down a couple of inches and rotate it 1/4 turn cut out a section 2-3" long halfway through. That gives me 3 options: no reducer, reduced down to about a 2-3" entrance, or turn the reducer 1/4 turn and its reduced to about 2 bee widths. I don't tack or glue anything, just set them in place. The bees will have them glued down by the time I check them again.
On a not-completely-unrelated note, I managed to kill a pair of splits by forgetting to reduce the top entrances/covers that I made like Michael Bush's. At least I'm pretty sure that's what happened. I peeked in and all the capped honey that I had moved over and capped brood had been opened up. I believe they got robbed by a couple of my more well-established hives.
TL;DR - Don't forget your entrance reducers on splits, no matter how excited you are to try Michael Bush-inspired covers/entrances.
TL;DR - Don't forget your entrance reducers on splits, no matter how excited you are to try Michael Bush-inspired covers/entrances.
When dealing with robbing a screen stapled over all but the last 1/4" to 1/2" works best as the robbers get confused by the screen more so than an entrance block. Any screen from #7 on down will work.
I'd love to see a photo of this if you get a chance. Thanks.My hives are all top entrances with 3/4" shims. I rip a 3/4 board on the table saw to 1" and cut it the width of the opening. Then I cut a section out about 3/4" long halfway through it. Then move down a couple of inches and rotate it 1/4 turn cut out a section 2-3" long halfway through. That gives me 3 options: no reducer, reduced down to about a 2-3" entrance, or turn the reducer 1/4 turn and its reduced to about 2 bee widths. I don't tack or glue anything, just set them in place. The bees will have them glued down by the time I check them again.
Is this how you go through winter? Thanks for posting the photos.I use #8 hardware cloth on mine. The easiest way is to form it into a wedge shape and stick it in. The length is easily changed by first folding it over.
I normally use no entrance reducers in winter on my top entrance hives. The last picture is from last winter. I had a shim on with solid sugar cake and actually had some robbing in January. That is why I reduced the entrance down then.Is this how you go through winter?
The top picture is of a hive in summer. I think it was a new hive I was feeding, if memory serves.
I use duct tape as my entrance reducer. All my hives have upper entrances.
Tom
Tom
And the bees don't get stuck to it?I use duct tape as my entrance reducer. All my hives have upper entrances.
Tom
Screen works best to foil robbers. A piece of screen molding nailed into the top works fine for keeping more of the winter winds out.
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/ReducedEntrance2Medium.jpg
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/ReducedEntrance2Medium.jpg
No, the bees don't get stuck on the duct tape.And the bees don't get stuck to it?
Tom
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
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