Entrance block

[BenLatimer]

Hi there!

I'm sure this is a very basic question so go easy please..

I've just transferred a nuc to a national hive and was told not to but an entrance block in.. I'm now reading conflicting things on this.. is there a general accepted practice on this..?

Thanks
Ben

 

[REDWOOD]

Small colony has less guard bees so unable to protect a large entrance

 

[theeggman]

We run with entrance blocks in 365, on reduced entrance not closed of course.

No problems to date.

 

[Millet]

Hi there!

I'm sure this is a very basic question so go easy please..

I've just transferred a nuc to a national hive and was told not to but an entrance block in.. I'm now reading conflicting things on this.. is there a general accepted practice on this..?

Thanks
Ben

I have my own home made tunnel entrance blocks which are 100mm wide 100mm deep into the hive and 9mm high, they are left in all year and never touched, on open mesh floors, i made them a couple of years back after having a bad wasp problem which it stopped.
Also i have started making underfloor entrance floors that do away with entrance blocks all together that can easily be reduced down if wasps or robbing became a problem, they also have open mesh floors.

With your new Nuc if it was mine i would use the wider entrance block if that is all i had and monitor it for congestion and robbing, i would personally never leave the entrance wide open with my old angry bees but i have new prolific Queens that may make me change my mind but time will tell.
Good luck and enjoy your bees Ben.

 

[Erichalfbee]

On the hives that have them as a feature I leave entrance blocks in all year whatever the size of the colony. Like Millet I have a few underfloor entrances too

 

[Hivemaker.]

I'm now reading conflicting things on this.. is there a general accepted practice on this..?

Just personal choice really, some use them some don't ...I never use them myself, don't even posses such things.

 

[Millet]

Just personal choice really, some use them some don't ...I never use them myself, don't even posses such things.

On your scale it is one thing less to worry about and carry around, i will get there one day..

 

[BenLatimer]

I have my own home made tunnel entrance blocks which are 100mm wide 100mm deep into the hive and 9mm high, they are left in all year and never touched, on open mesh floors, i made them a couple of years back after having a bad wasp problem which it stopped.
Also i have started making underfloor entrance floors that do away with entrance blocks all together that can easily be reduced down if wasps or robbing became a problem, they also have open mesh floors.

With your new Nuc if it was mine i would use the wider entrance block if that is all i had and monitor it for congestion and robbing, i would personally never leave the entrance wide open with my old angry bees but i have new prolific Queens that may make me change my mind but time will tell.
Good luck and enjoy your bees Ben.

Thanks very much! I think I'll go for a block with a wide entrance and hope for the best!