[newbee 101]

Do bottom ventilation boards work?
(slatted rack)

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"To bee or not to bee, that is the question"

 

[SilverFox]

I'm using them on 5 of my 13 hives and they seem to. I'think they also help to keep the main hive cleaner as you'd only have to sweep any debris off the bottom board, and the bees don't have to walk thru it as much.

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'WHEN WE CLOSE OUR EYES WE ALL LOOK THE SAME' GWPW 03

 

[Michael Bush]

They REDUCE swarming and increase brood production some over a solid bottom board. I like them on my SBB because they break up the draft when the bottom is open, provide cluster space in the evening and still allow bottom ventilation.

I have them on most all of my hives. If I don't it's because I hived a swarm and didn't get around to putting the slatted rack on yet, or it's a long horizontal hive or a 8 frame hive.

Nothing is a sure thing to prevent a swarm, but they add to the overall effect of avoiding swarms.