Crown board hole

[joelsoo]

Hi guys, do you all generally leave the crown board hole open on a hive or do you shut it with a block of wood or put the porter escape on it permanently?

What are the pros and cons of leaving it open or closed? And is there a general answer of closing or leaving it open? I was thinking if left open they will build wild comb space in the roof.

Thoughts?


Thanks
Joel

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[Erichalfbee]

Closed.
Open only with a feeder on top
Add insulation. If the top is warmer than the sides you get no condensation on the bees.
Bees don’t need top ventilation. They manage perfectly well on their own.

 

[joelsoo]

Great thanks!! I made my roofs without any ventilation at the top and inside the roof I put a piece of 25mm celotex insulation. [emoji106][emoji106]

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[Cb50]

Mine are closed. A tile on top. Also I have open mesh floors so enough ventilation.

Also have celotex on top in all but the hottest period.

Closed wood floors may be a different theory?

 

[Angry_Mob]

Also have celotex on top in all but the hottest period.

Insulation on hives is like a puppy, it's not just for Christmas. Keep it on all year and especially during the hot spells.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Closed.
Open only with a feeder on top
Add insulation. If the top is warmer than the sides you get no condensation on the bees.
Bees don’t need top ventilation. They manage perfectly well on their own.

not one plausible reason for leaving a gaping hole in the crownboard

Closed wood floors may be a different theory?

No, I have run both and both with insulation and neither crownboard nor vented roofs

 

[Cb50]

Insulation on hives is like a puppy, it's not just for Christmas. Keep it on all year and especially during the hot spells.

I just find when it is very hot the propolis goes really gluey on top. But yes most by a log shot of time it is on. Just when over 30 or so

 

[Bee Bumble]

Closed. Insulation on top of crown board. I do not know of anyone who still uses Porter bee escapes.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I just find when it is very hot the propolis goes really gluey on top. But yes most by a log shot of time it is on. Just when over 30 or so

Insulation would keep the top cooler in really hot weather.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Insulation would keep the top cooler in really hot weather.

Mine is permanently glued into the roofs.
I can't understand the logic of taking it off when it is only moderately warm.

 

[joelsoo]

Closed. Insulation on top of crown board. I do not know of anyone who still uses Porter bee escapes.

oh i use it when i wanna clear a super, put the crown board above the QE, with porter bee escape, then lets the bees clear away into brood box, few days later go collect the supers for extraction which will be free of bees.

 

[Michael Palmer]

Well, what can I say. I leave my crown board holes open. Close them up and the space between crown board and lid becomes an ant gallery. Ants of all kinds. Leave them open and never an ant will be seen

 

[Erichalfbee]

oh i use it when i wanna clear a super, put the crown board above the QE, with porter bee escape, then lets the bees clear away into brood box, few days later go collect the supers for extraction which will be free of bees.

Rhombus escapes work infinitely better clearing supers overnight

 

[Erichalfbee]

Well, what can I say. I leave my crown board holes open. Close them up and the space between crown board and lid becomes an ant gallery. Ants of all kinds. Leave them open and never an ant will be seen

Not in winter though ?
Thank heavens we don’t get so much of an ant problem here.
Earwigs. We get earwigs.

 

[Courty]

I was shown an interesting crownboard set up earlier this year.
The crown board had the hole left open over winter, with a second solid crown board above it. The beekeeper would pour thick syrup in a circle around the hole on top of the first board and then replace the second board.
He said the bees fed on syrup through winter and it worked for him.

Courty

 

[joelsoo]

Not in winter though ?
Thank heavens we don’t get so much of an ant problem here.
Earwigs. We get earwigs.

oh i get earwig problem too, is it necessary to get rid of them? or just let them be?

with regards to rhombus escapes, i'd research on that abit too, i saw them before, and don't know whats the exact use of it! still new!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

oh i get earwig problem too, is it necessary to get rid of them? or just let them be?

Let them be, they happily coexist with the bees.
Same with ants really - I have a few ant colonies who take advantage of the heat above the crownboards to set up nursery areas to finish off their eggs and pupae.

 

[pargyle]

oh i get earwig problem too, is it necessary to get rid of them? or just let them be?

with regards to rhombus escapes, i'd research on that abit too, i saw them before, and don't know whats the exact use of it! still new!

Dump the porter bee escapes ... they are an abomination. The Rhombus works much quicker, never jams up and (in my case anyway) nearly always removes every last bee from the super. Put on in the evening .. clear by morning.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well, what can I say. I leave my crown board holes open.

You also drive on the wrong side of the road - but you wouldn't do it over here

 

[Michael Palmer]

Not in winter though ?
Thank heavens we don’t get so much of an ant problem here.
Earwigs. We get earwigs.

No, not open in winter. Yeah, we'll get earwigs too if the hole is closed. And roaches and spiders and mice.