entrance blocks

[Cuckmere couple]

do people remove altogether at this time of year

seen some pictures showing no entrance block at all

i tend to turn it to the 5-6 inch size

 

[Curly green finger's]

do people remove altogether at this time of year

seen some pictures showing no entrance block at all

i tend to turn it to the 5-6 inch size

I think you have to go with your bees on this one. If theres a good flow and there backing up take them out or change to a bigger entrance as you suggested.

 

[Ian123]

Never have them fully open, bees manage just fine.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

I use short pieces of wood cut to different lengths to give an opening to suit the conditions - never fully open. It's interesting how small an entrance they can use effectively, even when there's a flow on.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Never have them fully open, bees manage just fine.

Im not disagreeing with you but I've observed pollen being knocked of bees legs when entrances are small even more so when it gets busy busy from a flow.
The entrance block also can get in the way if you have bees wanting to go to the supers.
I suppose that's where another entrance sometimes helps.

 

[Cb50]

do people remove altogether at this time of year

seen some pictures showing no entrance block at all

i tend to turn it to the 5-6 inch size

Never really needed to take them out. The 5-6 gap suffices. Easier for them to guard as well. Queuing for a couple of seconds never caused an issue.

 

[Show me the honey]

do people remove altogether at this time of year

seen some pictures showing no entrance block at all

i tend to turn it to the 5-6 inch size

Just go underfloor entrance then the opening stays the same come rain or shine darkest winter or hottest summer

Even if you have the ‘normal’ (I fill dated and rubbish) floors you can modify them easily enough but JBM floor plan are the best hands down. As it’s a complete not just a mod

 

[Erichalfbee]

Agree
I have almost moved entirely to UFE
Just a couple of nucs left

 

[Ian123]

I find little need to muck about with floors and entrances to much I simply use a floor sized piece of ply with a batten around allowing about a five inch fixed entrance, then screwed to a couple of 4x2 runners. The 5” entrance is more than adequate at peak time and is reduced with a bit of foam towards the end of the season. I used to get really annoyed when moving hives faffing about with loose blocks. Nuc entrances on my home made boxes are 18mm square and about 2” in length perfectly adequate for any but the poorest nuc to defend. In truth you don’t need to get any more complicated than that.