Bees ignore main entrance

[phill]

My one strong hive came through a brutal New England winter in good shape. For several weeks the entrance was covered with snow, but I'd made them a small top entrance.

Now spring is finally here, they're flying a lot, and traffic at that little top entrance is getting congested. But I haven't sene any coming & going at all around the 'regular' bottom entrance. I've cleaned out the hive; there's no obstruction. They could use the bottom entrance if they wanted. Apparently they don't.

Anyone else seen this behavior? I'm assuming that when I take off the entrance reducer down below, they'll get the picture.

[Kathyp]

you won't often find a natural hive with more than one entrance.  They come and go where they want.  check your bottom entrance for obstructions, but chance are, they won't use it.