Cutting a hole is entirely up to you. I like the open bottom that way i can treat from under the hive. When it gets hot i open it up too. Some beeks like the screen bottom some dont. Everyone has thier own opinion. Its up to you.

 

Do you open all the windows at home when you're running the AC?

 

Sure if you would like to install a homemade oav gadget under the hive.
I have many of those to oav treat them before. Keep in minds that once
you open it they will become permanent. Now I think it is better not to
open it after finding a better use of the oac (oxalis acid crystals.) For better
ventilation I just make the hive entrance to 1.5" tall and all the way open.

 

No.

 

No.

one more

 

I like you Vance. You don't mince words.

 

Should I cut a big hole in the bottom and staple in #8 screen ?

No.

 

Why ruin a perfectly good bottom board?

 

no and a 1 .5 inch opening will let in mice. 3/8 opening works for me - see this thread for pic. of my bottoms
http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?330996-Question-about-DIY-bottom-boards
Steve

 

With a strong hive no mice will get in all summer long. All my hives are
2' off the ground on the stands. Then in the late Autumn all the hive entrances will be reduced to
a half inch or smaller depending on how cold out there. We have mice and big rats out there in the
yard but none got to my bees or able to hide in there so far.

 

Beepro - explain to me why you would need such a big opening - I see toadstools made on the bottom board with this much clearance - and really no benefit to the larger opening. Not looking to get in a pissing contest - just wondering why???

 

Yes, Sak. I understand your intention. No joking tonight.
The 2" opening all the way across is to accommodate my homemade oav gadget under the
hives. Every LP composite migratory cover converted to the bottom board has
a big 4" hole in it. This way I can take vids on the oav burn process for documentation.
The second reason is we have over 100F weather all summer long maybe just like TX there. I
want the bees to take full advantage of the taller hive opening so that they are not too hot
inside. Not much fanning or bearding this year either with a larger opening. With a smaller opening they
tends to beard a lot in the summer time. Lastly, the taller opening will cause the stronger hive to build
burr comb at the bottom because of the extra space. For this I have to make a split before they swarm on me.
I like to make more queens and splits to increase my hive number if I can. So a good indicator of a strong hive ready
for the splits. It works for me!


p.S. Did you know when flashing a small LED light into the taller hive entrance you can see where all the
bees cluster at? Are they on the pollen frames or on the brood frames through out the 4 seasons? For this I can make more hive manipulation. I'll let you figure out this one.

 

OK on the bottom spacing - its just what you like to run in your operation. - Got it. I make mine like my old mentor did. As you can see from the other post - they stack nicely on a pallet. And they stay in place while going down the road with them. (trucking) Old mentor ran South Dakota/California/Texas
Anyway - I like butting heads with ya - its kinda fun. What's your hive count anyway? You a comm. operator?

 

Sak, keep it up and I'll be in your shoes in a few years.
Still a young lad, you know. I like to keep things in secret for now.
You're a hard working man, for that I know! Good to have you here
in the late nights. Signing off again, bud!

 

I would not.

 

Like everything else, it depends.

I put an outhive on a guy's stand -- it was reasonable -- but the custom bottom board i had (due to skunks) and the stand he had, i used a hole saw to drill a hole in the bottom board and #8 screened it in so there was a little ventilation without any undue exposure.

Like everything else, it depends.

 

Sometimes when I want fresh air. My screen bottoms are made to be closed or open which ever one I want or the bees like

 

I read somewhere that -- although humans seem to think screened BBs are best for varroa-fall-through -- bees don't like the light that comes up through the screens and possibly don't need/want the amount of ventilation the SBBs permit.

I'm too new to vouch for any of it. Ideas/comments from anybody on this?

 

You can adjust the opening with most sbb. Theres a door you pull on it to either close or open how ever much you want. Thats why i like the screened bottom.

 

I've checked my SBBs (I have 3, from 2 different companies) -- don't see anything door-like or adjustable to work with. Just .... screen. I guess I could get some super-thin board to place atop or under the screens if I want to lessen amounts of light entering a hive...... ?

 

YES!

 

Well im sorry i should have said i make my own. But you can use those plastic political signs to use that as a door thats what i use. Maybe you can make a channel on the bottom so you can just slide the plastic in or out. 3/8 plywood cut to fit makes a good door too. If you have questions about the channel im talking about pm me ill go more in depth

 

I wouldn't.

Though, if you're looking to increase ventilation and/or a way to control/monitor for mites you could use a screened insert that sits on top of a solid bottom. It allows a tray to be slid under the screen for mite counts and prevents mites from crawling back up into the hive.

mlanden, I bought one this year to try on for size, and found they wouldn't draw out comb along the bottom two inches of the frames in the bottom deep.