mice

[randydrivesabus]

do you folks recommend an entrance blocker of some kind so the mice dont move in to my hive this winter? does an entrance reducer with the smallest opening serve the same prupose? would you use one of these starting after the first hard freeze?[/b]

[TwT]

a entrance reducer is all I ever use (smallest opening), my hives are off the ground also so that helps, I put mine on when the day after the fall flow or when the first frost kills the goldenrod, some times the goldenrod will die before the first frost and I will install at that time also... when the day time highs are in the 60's I would say it would be OK to install the entrance reducer then...

[Brian D. Bray]

1/4 or 3/8 hardware cloth makes a go mouse guard year around.

[mick]

I have seen photos of mice in hives. Can someone explain to me why they do not get stung to death?

[buzzbee]

Mick,
Often it is cold enough that the bees are in a tight cluster when the mice chew their way into the hive.The mouse is usually looking for a warm place to stay,which a hive provides.
If it is too cold, the bees won't bother the mouse much.I have seen some photos of mice that were propolized to seal off the unsanitary rodent that meet it's demise in the hive!

[Understudy]

Against mice I recommend using top entrances.
You can see mine here.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=5176.0

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Michael Bush]

I never get mice with a top entrance.  I've never seen mice in the hive except in winter.  They DO get stung to death if they get in the hive and it's not winter.  But in the winter they get a nest built and even on a warm day they can just sit tight until it gets cold and the bees calm down.  They can devastate a hive.

[Robo]

Found a mouse today in my TBH.   Though not a top entrance,  if they can climb up this, I don't see why they couldn't climb up to a top entrance on a Langstroth.

[Michael Bush]

>if they can climb up this, I don't see why they couldn't climb up to a top entrance on a Langstroth.

I don't either but I've never seen them do it.

[Cindi]

EEEKS!!!  Mice could probably climb up a string if they wanted to.  I live your hive Robo.

Talk about "things" being propolized in hives.  We have slugs, do you guys have slugs?  They are nasty greasy, slimy things, can't stand them. One day I was in a hive, and there was a big slug that had been propolized.  I was amazed, but they can slip through such a small entrance when they want to get in.  I don't know why they would want to go into a hive, I think they just like the sweet little green vegetables.  Maybe they were after pollen?  I don't know, pretty strange though.  Great day. Cindi

[Jerrymac]

Robo,
What angle are those legs and what thickness? Are they coated with something to make them smooth or are they rough enough a mouse could get a claw hold?

[Robo]

It is rough cut 1x that was run through a planer and oiled.  If memory serves me,  I think they are about 30 degrees.

[Jerrymac]

The mice can grip both sides of the board and walk right up it. They have a bit more difficult time scaling a shear wall.