Hello all. Noob question, but I have no experience with robber screens. Looking back at my previous years I should be using them. Two falls ago I had my hives wiped clean by yellow jackets. I became more diligent with entrance reducers but after some research I started to wonder why I don't use them. I have made some for some of my mating nucs and for my regular nucs. I have begun to make them for my full hives.
i have screwed the robber screens to my mating nucs and regular nucs. I full intend on using them year round on them. One question I have, is there any reason I couldn't use them year round on my full hives? Any drawbacks to that? I know that a strong hive will be able to protect itself but this would mean I don't have to monkey at all with entrance reducers, which I can never manage to keep on.
As of now my screens for my nucs have a top and bottom wooden piece and the notch is in the top piece. I have left the top open on my full hives figuring they wouldn't need it reduced further with the robbing screen. If I plan on using them year round am I ok with this setup? Should I maybe find a way to apply a removable reducer to the full sized hives? That would also allow me to easily mouse proof my hives. That's something I have struggled with. This would allow for good ventilation but yet no mice in winter.
Thoughts on all that?