Feed hole. To cover or not?

[sandysman]

Just because its raining, (again!) and to test the water with my learned forum friends I would be interested in your thoughts on the following.

I have nationals on omf's. I normally cover the feed hole on the crown board to stop the bees coming through and building brace comb in the roof space as this is what I was taught to do. However a bee buddy of mine who also has nationals on omf's leaves the hole open for ventilation. He does not seem to get any brace comb problems. I would be interested in your thoughts on this issue.
Thanks

Andy

 

[Black Comb]

I've tried both and it does not seem to matter.
The bees usually try an glue up any holes so I suppose the conventional wisdom will say cover it.

 

[johnandyrob]

Why do you need more ventilation than an open mesh floor? How much ventilation does a hive need? IMHO a feed hole is just that a hole for feeding through when you are not feeding the hole is not needed so should be covered. As Rab has suggested on other threads put mesh over it and let the bees decide.

 

[jackbee]

Just because its raining, (again!) and to test the water with my learned forum friends I would be interested in your thoughts on the following.

I have nationals on omf's. I normally cover the feed hole on the crown board to stop the bees coming through and building brace comb in the roof space as this is what I was taught to do. However a bee buddy of mine who also has nationals on omf's leaves the hole open for ventilation. He does not seem to get any brace comb problems. I would be interested in your thoughts on this issue.
Thanks

Andy

ooooh, you've done it now - holes and vemtilation, stand by!!

 

[rae]

OMF is more than enough ventilation.

Probably makes no difference in the summer, would be a big problem in the winter.

We leave a bit of ply over all our and the bees glue it down. Having bees in the roof space just gives you another opportunity to crush them.

 

[MandF]

ooooh, you've done it now - holes and vemtilation, stand by!!

hehehe

 

[MandF]

I often put brace comb with honey in, in the roof space, for the bees clean out.

I dont remember ever having brace comb in the roof, my old tutor (bbka education officer) told us the bees see it as outside their hive so why would they build comb? As I said, I havent seen anything on either my hives or the association hives to suggest otherwise yet.

In the winter it is a different matter.

 

[MandF]

will just add, for the feeder hole police, that I cover up the holes when I am not feeding or wanting the bees to clean up comb for me.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

He'll be mentioning matchsticks next!
I have feeder boards (with holes in various places depending on type of feeder) Clearer boards (with holes in) And crown boards with no holes at all in for when I'm not either clearing supers or feeding. I have OMF so no need for top ventilation.

 

[Skyhook]

OMF is more than enough ventilation.

Probably makes no difference in the summer, would be a big problem in the winter.

We leave a bit of ply over all our and the bees glue it down. Having bees in the roof space just gives you another opportunity to crush them.

 

[plumberman]

Personally, I find it perplexing that this question comes up so often. As others have said, OMF more than sufficient, and even without this the bees organise a very efficient circulation system within the hive to maintain an even temperature.

As O2O will almost certainly tell you, try putting mesh over the hole- It gets propolised over very quickly.

What actual advantage is being cited as to keeping it open?

 

[MandF]

As O2O will almost certainly tell you, try putting mesh over the hole- It gets propolised over very quickly.

Yes, when he decides to back up his opinions with the "bees know best" tack.

Then when bees naturally do something different to what he is opining, he conveniently ignores it.

There is no argument here - noone is suggesting that keeping feed holes unblocked is an advantage in terms of ventilation. Some people think there is little disadvantage, in the summer, so it isnt a big deal either way.

The OP has been advised to close the holes, unless he needs them open to feed (or get comb cleaned up), and advised that this is more important in the winter.

Move along now, nothing to see here

 

[MandF]

Oh, and it comes up so often because certain suppliers supply CBs with feed holes, and without instructions. So they naturally assume the holes are meant to be there.

If suppliers called these feeder boards then I guess it would prompt newbees to ask where the CB is, and then be told it doubles as a cb if they close off the holes.

But really, not a big deal.

 

[Swarm]

I suppose the question keeps coming up because they are the boards supplied with most hives.

 

[SenatorMagenut]

I put my contact feeder on one hole and have a mesh on the other.
Ventilation and no brace comb.
Simples

 

[BeeMoustashe]

I cover the holes as much for practicality as anything- saves bees billowing out at me when i take the roof off before i get the smoker under the CB!

Point to note, if anyone wants a visual reference, in the 'Queen of the Sun' dvd it shows the Hackney beekeepers on their rooftop apiary. One scene shows the beek taking off the roof, full of brace comb, and dripping honey everywhere. CB hole left open.

 

[jackbee]

I suppose the question keeps coming up because they are the boards supplied with most hives.

But don't people read up on this stuff before they start??

I like to know what i'm doing before i do it, well as much as is possible anyway

 

[MandF]

I dont think I have read in any book where it says you should keep any feed holes closed when not in use?

It would also help if Th*rnes supplied blanking plates with them, instead of porter escapes.

 

[mbc]

I like to leave a bee way (enough space for bees to get through) on the side hole and cover the middle one, this stops bees becoming trapped between then crown board and roof.
As to bees putting honey under the roof, thats better than them having no space at all and it going uncollected, its always possible to scrape it into a bucket and process it along with capping's.

 

[Ely]

I've fitted all of my hives with high powered industrial extractor fans to solve ventilation issues. The type you see at restaurants