Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: _Brenda_ on April 12, 2008, 01:03:14 pm

Title: Another newbee question
Post by: _Brenda_ on April 12, 2008, 01:03:14 pm: Hi all. :)
I have my hive built, painted and ready for my package bees.
I've been reading some good books about beekeeping, and keep reading about "migratory covers", but I haven't seen one or found out when or why they would be used. :?
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: Pond Creek Farm on April 12, 2008, 04:38:08 pm: They are designed so that several hives can be stacked close together on a pallat for easy loading with a fork lift. With a regular top cover, there were be about a three inch gap between the hives as they sit on a pallat. Unless you are planning to stack several hives and move them around from field to field, you will not need one.
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: _Brenda_ on April 12, 2008, 05:05:31 pm: Thank you, Brian.
I won't need one, then.
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: rast on April 12, 2008, 05:12:28 pm: I had one laying here, so I threw it on an empty hive for you. Hive body would have recessd side handles or 3/4 X 1" front and rear handles right under the front and rear overhang on it if migratory.
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: rast on April 12, 2008, 05:16:15 pm: (http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2609/imag0017co1.th.jpg) (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imag0017co1.jpg)
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: Kathyp on April 12, 2008, 05:22:11 pm: i use them. they cost less. i buy them pre-cut and put them together myself.
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: Ross on April 12, 2008, 06:11:55 pm: I wouldn't buy anything else. Full tops and inner covers are wasted money around here. I make 14 tops out of one sheet of 3/4 plywood, less than $2 each. The bees don't know the difference. Many northern beekeepers are using the also.
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: rdy-b on April 12, 2008, 08:45:30 pm: THE only time the bees will know the difference is in snow country -your best bet is the telescopic hive cover -so it seals against the cold wind and snow drifts that could pile next to your colony -where i live we run all migratory tops as we dont need the extra piece of equipment from the necessary inner cover -that is a must with telescopic tops -RDY-B
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: Michael Bush on April 12, 2008, 10:06:53 pm: IMO a migratory cover with some kind of top entrance (a notch etc.) and some styrofoam on top is just as good as an inner and outer cover.

There are all some kind of migratory cover with a top entrance:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: _Brenda_ on April 13, 2008, 11:05:37 am: Cheaper sounds better, but we can have some wicked winters here.
Thanks everyone. They will be something to keep in mind if I expand much.
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: Brian D. Bray on April 15, 2008, 12:32:01 am: Another way to make a top is just to turn your old solid bottom boards upside down and put it on top the hive. Top entrance, ventilation, and migratory top all in 1.
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: Pond Creek Farm on April 19, 2008, 12:46:30 am: Brian: Do you leave the existing bottom entrance through the SBB open as well? I have several solid bottom boards that I never use, and if they could be used for top covers and be helpful to the bees, then I am game for that. I could simply refrain from ordering the telescoping cover when expanding the apiary.
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: CBEE on April 19, 2008, 10:36:42 am: If you use a bottom board for a top would you use an inner cover or not ?
Title: Re: Another newbee question
Post by: Brian D. Bray on April 20, 2008, 10:33:04 am: Quote from: CBEE on April 19, 2008, 10:36:42 am
If you use a bottom board for a top would you use an inner cover or not ?

No inner cover, an inverted bottom board is like a migratgory top and used in the same way except the bees enter and leave from the top of the hive instead of the bottom.