Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => TOP BAR HIVES - WARRE HIVES - LONG HIVES => Topic started by: ITstings on March 06, 2009, 06:36:35 pm
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How big should entrance be in tbh . two or three 3/4 holes on top or bottom . should they be top or bottom. thanks for any advice.
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There is really no right answer. The bees are pretty resilient. I made mine 1/2" x 6", but 3/4" holes will work just as well. I made one with top entrances and one with bottom entrances. I would like to say the top entrance was better, but I really have nothing to back that up with.
(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/photos/d/387-3/100_0594.JPG)(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/photos/d/388-3/100_0595.JPG)
I have also used the bung hole as an entrance in my barrel hives.
(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/photos/d/277-3/Picture+004.jpg)
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All of my top bar entrances are just the first bar spaced back from the front 3/8". I have no holes. You can adjust it as you like.
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My top bar hives use a bottom entrance but a imperfection in my follower board on one gives them a top rear entrance. They use both. They may have propolised the top one this winter but will see when they get active.
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My top bar hives use a bottom entrance but a imperfection in my follower board on one gives them a top rear entrance. They use both. They may have propolised the top one this winter but will see when they get active.
They may very well of done that. I have seen it, when the bees have a choice, they will close off the top entrance. I think they do this for enhancing trapped heat. In studies, bees overwhelmingly choose a bottom entrance over a top entrance, when side by side offerings were made. I think the bees know something... ;)
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My top bar hives use a bottom entrance but a imperfection in my follower board on one gives them a top rear entrance. They use both. They may have propolised the top one this winter but will see when they get active.
"That which bees do not approve of, they propolize." --Me
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thank you for the help.