You could buy some timber batons from the nearest DIY shop, cut 4 lengths and glue together to make an eke, it's only got to last 4 weeks or so.
Rich.
You could but the extra volume of air will make the Apiguard less effective and if the super is empty you may get a lot of wild comb when the ivy starts to flower... The smell doesn't seem to last too long afterwards.
You could buy some timber batons from the nearest DIY shop, cut 4 lengths and glue together to make an eke, it's only got to last 4 weeks or so.
Rich.
You could but the extra volume of air will make the Apiguard less effective
Its about giving extra 'headroom', but not more than needed.
.
MM, I didn't know that was their official line!
I have gone by custom and practice, even the offers of 40mm high "Apiguard ekes" from the major equipment suppliers, but did note the advice of my SBI that the latest thinking was that more headroom (up to 10 beespaces he said) might be better (and that is only half a National super).
Since the vapour is heavier than air, it will tend to concentrate more in the bottom of the hive than in the top headroom. Hence my uncertainty as to what benefit the headroom might provide. Better convective circulation of vapour within the hive?
Providing unrestricted access to the tray (and without inviting brace or propolis to the tray) has seemed the primary requirement.
I suspect the further north the less the need for the super and more the eke.
PH
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