Screened Bottom Board

[ivashka]

I live in Colorado and in the summer it goes above 100 degrees when in the winter it can go below Zero.  Is it good idea to put screened bottom board?

[Robo]

It's a personal preference.  Beekeepers survived 100s of years without SBB.  You will find some that can't live without them now and some like myself that tried them and went back to solids.   You will find some in almost every climate that claim success with leaving them open all year round, and others that close them off during the winter.

[Joelel]

I live in Colorado and in the summer it goes above 100 degrees when in the winter it can go below Zero.  Is it good idea to put screened bottom board?

Yes,In the summer they won't have to carry as much water to cool the brood.

[irekkin]

i just started using sbb this year. they really seemed to help with the ventilation and cooling this summer,very little to no bearding. if you use the type that have a removable board under the screen ( sticky board) it' s great for mite control/getting mite counts. if nothing else they help keep hive thrash from building up. i plan to close them off in the winter. :yippiechick: :yippiechick:

[David LaFerney]

It's a great way to keep an eye on the gunk (mites) that fall out of the hive.  Unfortunately Hive beetles go right through them up into your hives.   Might want to consider that if you are in an SHB area?

[alfred]

I'm in Loveland, Colorado just north of you. I have been using them for 2 years now. I like them. I close them up most of the way in the winter. I bought a roll of hardware cloth and I make them myself. Pretty easy to do. I use a top entrance as well so they get real good ventilation.
Alfred

[troutstalker2]

  Robo

  Just curious, why did go back to solids?

[Robo]

  Robo

  Just curious, why did go back to solids?

I believe my hives do better when they can retain the heat in the brood chamber and when they control the amount of ventilation.  I find slatted racks prevent bearding.

I think they are fine if one keeps them closed off and just uses them for mite drop counts,  but not worth the investment for that to me.  And as far as IPM,  I'm not convinced the natural fall off rate is significant enough to make a difference.

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,22228.msg171090.html#msg171090
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,25132.0.html
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,21174.msg162151.html#msg162151

[Kathyp]

i use them, but close them up at  night.  i caught more swarms than i had BBs for, so i have a couple on solid bottoms.  when i started out and had solid bottoms, i noticed that by spring i had a really gunky, moldy, mess on the bottom even with the hives tipped.  with the screened boards, i still have a pile of dead bees and gunk, but it's not such a stinky mess.  i put the inserts in for winter, but there must be enough air circulation under the screen to help keep the nasty down.