Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Rick O. on October 24, 2013, 12:29:12 pm

Title: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: Rick O. on October 24, 2013, 12:29:12 pm

Last year I made about fifteen inner/outer covers to have on hand.  This past summer I decided to go with top entrances on all my hives.  Has anyone come up with a way to modify an inner/outer cover to be used as a top entrance?  I have a couple of ideas, but wanted to see what has been done so far and with what success.

Title: Re: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: tefer2 on October 24, 2013, 12:43:51 pm

Just cut a 3/8 by 3/4 notch on the deep side.

Title: Re: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: Brother Dave on November 24, 2013, 06:39:00 pm

this is what I am doing I have middle entrances I put a set of roofing shims under my top box to creat a 1/4 inch gap. it is easy and cheap. also it is not permanent. this is a picture where i put the shims under my inner cover
(http://s18.postimg.org/6o2q2zmx1/DSCN1896.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)

Title: Re: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: T Beek on November 26, 2013, 09:09:46 am

Shims work fine as a top entrance that's not meant to be permanent. 

For something more permanent I cut a 2.5" notch in the inner cover, placed notch side down and reducing to the size of 2 (half inch) bees for winter.

I build my own telescopic covers.  They are deeper and wider than what can be purchased and are placed above an empty feed/vent box.  The goal is to size them large enough to fit over 1" foam insulation that is placed around my hives for winter protection.

Title: Re:
Post by: Brother Dave on December 13, 2013, 12:04:19 pm

I plan on using shims for permanent entrances.


Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: Michael Bush on December 13, 2013, 08:26:12 pm

http://bushfarms.com/images/EightTenEightHives.jpg (http://bushfarms.com/images/EightTenEightHives.jpg)

The hive on the left has a wide notch in the inner cover which then has an empty box on top of the inner cover (and a screen on the hole in the inner cover).

Title: Re: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: flyboy on January 28, 2014, 05:22:14 pm

Quote from: Rick O. on October 24, 2013, 12:29:12 pm

Last year I made about fifteen inner/outer covers to have on hand.  This past summer I decided to go with top entrances on all my hives.

I am  newbee. Just finished making 2 hives. Both were made with bottom entrances.

What is the reasoning behind top entrance?

Title: Re: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: Michael Bush on January 29, 2014, 07:45:25 am

In winter it lets out the moisture.  In winter when dead bees pile up on the bottom, the top entrance does not get blocked.  In summer and winter, a top only entrance (no bottom) keeps out mice and keeps the skunks from eating the bees.  If you run an excluder, a top and bottom entrance keeps the bees from fighting their way through the excluder every trip...

Title: Re: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: flyboy on January 29, 2014, 01:09:00 pm

Michael, that makes a lot of sense. What are the downsides? (NPI)

Title: Re: Modified Inner/Outer Cover for Hive Top Entrance
Post by: Michael Bush on January 29, 2014, 08:53:04 pm

>What are the downsides?

I don't see any.