mouse gaurd ?

[prana vallabha]

HI all this is my first posting this year and not my last , when is a good time to take off the mouse gaurd .....

many thanks in advance

 

[Lorenz]

No, it is too early to take the mouse guard off. It is still very cold and the mice will want somewhere warm and the bees won't be flying and bringing in pollen. When the bees bring in pollen everyday, then take of the mouseguard. Most people do it when they replace the over wintering floor wiht a clean one in the Spring.

 

[itma]

I'd offer two questions

-- is it interfering with pollen collection?
-- are the nights warm enough that the bees aren't clustered and so are able to deter unwelcome nocturnal visitors?

If you have two "no" responses, you'd be best to leave the guard in place.

 

[VEG]

I dont use them as not had any problems in my apiary yet. Have you had any problems with mice or do you put them on just incase?

 

[itma]

I use them because I know there are mice around, and while I'm not wanting to exterminate them, I think a mouseguard is cheap insurance against "a problem" inside one or more hives.
The bees work around it, without much difficulty.

 

[stuart]

Mouse guard/beefondant