Top entrance

1844 Views 8 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Sticky Bear, May 17, 2014

jayhawkdoug

Discussion Starter · May 4, 2014

I am thinking about using a top entrance and was wanting to know if I would still use an inner cover. Also what kind of top feeder would I need to use. Thanks, Doug

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if you are using a tello. cover you need to use some type of inner cover or cloth sheet or the bees will glue down the tello. cover real well. you do not need an inner cover with a migratory cover or flat piece of wood as long as you can get the hive tool between the cover and hive body. as far as feeder , not an entrance feeder.

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TVBeek

· #3 · May 4, 2014

jayhawkdoug said:
I am thinking about using a top entrance and was wanting to know if I would still use an inner cover. Also what kind of top feeder would I need to use. Thanks, Doug

Doug,
I added some 5/16" shim to the hive side of my inner cover on 3 sides. I have no vent hole or cutout in my inner cover. If I wanted to feed I will install another top entrance with a hole in the center and use a inverted bucket feeder with a super to protect it.
Ray

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Michael Bush

· #4 · May 5, 2014

>I am thinking about using a top entrance and was wanting to know if I would still use an inner cover.

There is no need. You can if you like. I think it's easier to manage hives without them... one less piece of equipment and I like mine up against each other.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#topentrance

> Also what kind of top feeder would I need to use.

Any of them will work. I have put them on top of shingle shims and then the cover upside down on top and bricks enough to seal it, or duct tape enough to seal it...

I use bottom board feeders instead...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#BottomBoardFeeder

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treeWinder

· #5 · May 5, 2014

Bee Insect Membrane-winged insect Beehive Honeybee

Since I use telescoping covers I use the following setup. I slot the inner cover, add a metal reducer, screen the escape hole, add the 3" shim from cutting down deeps to mediums, and block off the bottom entrance. Since I don't transport the hives I don't use the migratory covers.

The shim can be used as feeding area, or in winter as a quilt box or taken off alltogether. If I want, I can close up top entrance with the metal reducer and open the bottom. More complicated than a migratory cover but was what I have on hand and use.

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JeffM17

· #6 · May 17, 2014

TreeWinder, have you ever had the bees build comb in the 3" section?

What if you just build a 3/8" high frame and used it beneath a super then with your inner cover and telescoping lid? Would the bees build comb in that 3/8" section between frames?

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treeWinder

· #7 · May 17, 2014

JeffM17 said:
TreeWinder, have you ever had the bees build comb in the 3" section?

What if you just build a 3/8" high frame and used it beneath a super then with your inner cover and telescoping lid? Would the bees build comb in that 3/8" section between frames?

No, as I screen the escape hole in the inner cover, so no bees above innercover. You could use as you described, many do just that. you can even just offset your supers from the one above or below to create a top or mid entrance.

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mdax

· #8 · May 17, 2014

I don't put much work into my top entrances.
I just cut a 3/4 piece of plywood so it fits with a small hangover on the short side.
Glue and staple shims.