Hot weather and ventilation advice please

[BCBEE]

Hello
Now we are likely to be having a few really hot days i wondered of i should leave the floor out from under the hive to aid airflow and just leave the varroa screen in place.

Although we have had little rain and my hive is sheltered by trees and so doesnt get full sun i thing theuy may still be getting a bit hot. I was advises to close the entrance up as some felt it was too big but I am a bit worried aboyt the girls getting a bit warm. I know they will regulate it themselves to a degree but wanted to give them as much chance as possible.

Its a national hive and this is the first year with my first nucleus which i have had about 4 weeks. The bood box is doing well with capped brood and honey and theres a super on top which has come being drawn out.

Duringh the day the bees are very active and are flying well returning pollen laden

I have also heard about the possibility of raising the crown board by putting some matches under it. Is this done under each cormer or just on one side.

Should i leave the bee escapes off?

I have noticed that when i take the lid off some water runs from under the metal cladding.

Its a new cedar hive.

Any help appreciated.
Regards
Phill

 

[oliver90owner]

If your bees have an OMF they will need no further ventilation - at any time of the year. Think bees in a tree. Probably far less than a full OMF would be more than adequate.

RAB

 

[Flatters]

Phil
If this an OMF I assume the "floor" you are talking about it the one that slides under. This in fact is not a floor but a monitoring board. It should only be in place when you monitor for varroa (a few days to a week). All the rest of the time is is out to let the OMF do the work. Even, and probably especially, in winter this board is left out. Left in it can contribute to a damp hive which is not good for the bees.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

As the others have said, the mite board should be out unless you are monitoring them. The matchstick thing was used when overwintering a solid-floored hive to give them ventilation. Not necessary at all with open floors.
The fact that you have a super on a smallish colony also gives them space. Note the porter bee escapes will allow some heat to fise out of the hive in any case. Most roofs have ventillation in them too to allow warm damp air out.

Bees are extremely good at controlling the temperature of the hive to suit their needs.

 

[BCBEE]

Many thanks to all for the replies.
Most helpful and I will leave the floor out. It had a bit of debris on but no mites this morning.

Phill

 

[MuswellMetro]

Many thanks to all for the replies.
Most helpful and I will leave the floor out. It had a bit of debris on but no mites this morning.

Phill

i only monitor once a month, so i have the board ( what you are caling a floor) in only 3 days a month

only time the baord is a full week(s) is when i have the varroa treatment on and i am trying to contain the vapour and monitor

 

[huntsman666]

<i wondered of i should leave the floor out from under the hive to aid airflow and just leave the varroa screen in place.>

Do you mean by the floor, the tray?

If so, that tray should be out at all times other than when measuring a varroa drop.

<I have also heard about the possibility of raising the crown board by putting some matches under it. Is this done under each cormer or just on one side.>

Don't, they'll quickly fill the gap with propolis. Depending on the hive type, that trick is only done going into the winter.

 

[BCBEE]

<i wondered of i should leave the floor out from under the hive to aid airflow and just leave the varroa screen in place.>

Do you mean by the floor, the tray?

If so, that tray should be out at all times other than when measuring a varroa drop.

<I have also heard about the possibility of raising the crown board by putting some matches under it. Is this done under each cormer or just on one side.>

Don't, they'll quickly fill the gap with propolis. Depending on the hive type, that trick is only done going into the winter.

Thanks again to all
Lesson learnt