mousegaurd removal

[LNH]

Hi all, have two hives and really happy to see quite a few flying bees around entrances today after first winter and wondering if its too early to remove mousegaurds? Thought it bit early despite this warm spell. Thinking of being safe and keeping on for few more weeks and possibly feeding some pollen instead or is it too early for that too? Uncertainty is a killer. Thanks

 

[enrico]

No rush to move the mouse guards. I don't feed pollen so can't comment
E

 

[hedgehog66]

I took mouseguards off this morning and going out to put them back on now.

 

[LNH]

I took mouseguards off this morning and going out to put them back on now.

Thanks,Yes ideal but my hives are in friends garden and very rural, don't have daily access. Looked at many previous threads about this and will keep eye on hives as much as poss for the moment

 

[Cazza]

No need to take your mouse guards off for a month or so. Last year removal was end of March, earliest ever was 21st March.
Cazza

 

[LNH]

No need to take your mouse guards off for a month or so. Last year removal was end of March, earliest ever was 21st March.
Cazza

Thanks Cazza, that sounds like the idea I had based on other threads, just keep seeing that they cause loss of some of the pollen brought in. Think will follow your advice and also aim to not open the hives for a little while yet despite urge to see exactly how they are coping

 

[Erichalfbee]

just keep seeing that they cause loss of some of the pollen brought in.

The way round that is to make an entrance block with a bee space height slot instead of a mouse guard. OR an underneath entrance a la JBM. These under floor entrances are brilliant, they deter wasps too! My only modification would be to make the floor accessible from the back so you can remove dead bees.

 

[enrico]

Thanks Cazza, that sounds like the idea I had based on other threads, just keep seeing that they cause loss of some of the pollen brought in. Think will follow your advice and also aim to not open the hives for a little while yet despite urge to see exactly how they are coping

Unless you are in a really warm place please don't open your hives yet. The rule of thumb is if you wouldn't be out wearing a t shirt then leave them alone!
E

 

[beeno]

Hi LNH,
Tempting but don't. They will be in like a shot. The cats are around my hives all the time because that's where the mice hang out. You want no more clustering and plenty of activity on a daily basis before mouse guards come off!

 

[For want of a better word]

I look to our Ground Hog "Tamar Tim"... he saw his shadow on February 2nd and thus predicted Spring not arriving for another 40 days....
So keep them on until the day before Mothering Sunday ( 15th March)

 

[LNH]

Unless you are in a really warm place please don't open your hives yet. The rule of thumb is if you wouldn't be out wearing a t shirt then leave them alone!
E

That sounds good advice, thanks. Essex/Suffolk border isn't bad with weather but reckon i'll heed your and everyone else's sound advice.

 

[LNH]

Thanks all for your advice.much appreciated. Don't want to cock all this up, not fair on the girls afterall