Hive ramps?

[Paulypaul]

Does anyone know why a lot of central and eastern European beekeepers have ramps at hive entrances, that go from door to ground?
Do their bees prefer to walk?

 

[rolande]

Does anyone know why a lot of central and eastern European beekeepers have ramps at hive entrances, that go from door to ground?
Do their bees prefer to walk?
View attachment 37942View attachment 37943

O er engineering to account for clipped queens?

 

[Paulypaul]

O er engineering to account for clipped queens?

Do we want a clipped queen back in the hive after she's tried unsuccessfully to swarm? A new virgin queen will shortly emerge, in the same box.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Perhaps they do a lot of Taranovs?

 

[rolande]

Do we want a clipped queen back in the hive after she's tried unsuccessfully to swarm? A new virgin queen will shortly emerge, in the same box.

A lot do, theoretically it could give the beekeeper another week to get around to the hive before the virgin is ready to fly. That said, my own observation of clipped queens (in a general/average sense) is that they hang on for as long as they can before flying anyway.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Brother Adam used to use them. I don't know why.

Link

 

[ericbeaumont]

ramps at hive entrances

Balancing colonies or getting rid of laying workers can be done easily during a flow by shaking bees off combs in front of a different hive. If they do a lot of it, makes sense to keep boards there during the season.