Mouseguard - how & exactly when do you fit it?

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I used a staple gun last year and was far superior in terms of keeping the guard on all winter. However, they do come and have a look when you start firing pins into the front of their house...
 
If you try to hammer pins in you will do it only once!

I was in a hurry once and used a tack hammer.

I have never seen such agro! The ladies really do not like some idiot hammering on their front door!

Also, why not doing first thing in the morning on a cool, overcast day?

I see very little signs of life before 9.30 and can get the job done in a moment
 
Sorry to ask I did try a search first.

Is it best to leave the entrance block out as I have left mine in both hives with the mouse guard fitted over since last week of October as it is mice heaven where I keep mine , both on OMF with insert left out , but when I went and had a quick look/check yesterday at the (outside) one of the hives had a lot of dead bees at the entrance and had blocked the entrance inside and out but taking in to account its only a small opening and it woudnt take that many to block it .

I have removed the mouse guard , I took the entrance block out , bees came out checking to see what was going on , and used a stick to remove any dead bees which apparently where only at the gap in the entrance block , I then re inserted the entrance block minus the mouse guard .

Any advice ? 1st time using them as never had in the past but another person who had hives same site had a family of mice move in to one of his last January so didnt want to take any chances.

Grub
 
Yes, leave the block out.
I have underfloor entrances to my wooden hives so no mouseguard needed but previously I put frame pins in the entrance block a bee space apart like a portcullis and left that in all year. Worked excellently as a mouse guard, the bees could get their dead out easily and it didn't strip pollen when that was being brought in.
 

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