new hive, where to drill a vent hole?

[priono]

Hi,

I acquired a new BS hive: 1broodbox, 2supers and a 4inch roof plus cboard and qexcluder

my question:

apart from the entrance and reducer there is no other exit or vent.
the roof is just a 4inch with tin covering 2inches sidewise.

where should i drill another hole? into the brood box or super with cone escape
or should i make slots in the side frame of the crownboard and some holes into the roof?

Thanks for any tip

 

[protheroe]

if you have a mesh floor,theres really no need for ventilation holes and the main entrance should be enough for the entrance/exit

 

[Mike a]

if you have a mesh floor,theres really no need for ventilation holes and the main entrance should be enough for the entrance/exit

Let them keep warm.
As above you can swap the floor for a mesh floor if you have solid floor but otherwise no need to try and improve on a design that has worked for nearly 100 years.

If the colony is reasonably strong then open the entrance up to a wide slot or pull out one end of the entrance block a little to give them a larger entrance. Watch for signs of robbing, fighting at the entrance or wasps. If you see any of this then reduce the entrance again.

 

[itma]

Two things -
- as above, a mesh floor is generally all you need, even with a hole-free crownboard. If the temperature ever gets above 30C, possibly then you might want to do something more. But until then, "chill"!
- standard wooden national roofs don't have a very overt "vent". They usually just have a couple of wedgy recesses leading in under the metal, on opposite sides. Looking inside you might expect to see a similar-sized insect screen on the underside of the roof where those vents meet the roof. Or just similar wedgy vents. Or even a discontinuity in the internal battening that sits on top of the hive wall.
Such non-obvious venting is normally adequate to prevent winter damp above the crownboard, and consequent rotting of the wood immediately beneath the roof metal.

Extra suggestion - go to ThØrnes website, and find the "downloads" link at the bottom of the page. Download the roof assembly instructions - and you will get a splendid "exploded diagram" showing how it goes together - and showing the vent recesses I have mentioned. Obviously, I can't give you a direct link ...

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

No-one has mentioned matches yet.




Dusty,

 

[psafloyd]

No-one has mentioned matches yet.




Dusty,

Matches? We no need no stinking matches...

 

[For want of a better word]

5/32 " slithers of quality timber fitted under the crownboad corners would give the bees more than adequate ventilation if on a solid floor, so no need to drill any holes

​

 

[tonybloke]

5/32 " slithers of quality timber fitted under the crownboad corners would give the bees more than adequate ventilation if on a solid floor, so no need to drill any holes

​

it's easier to just put a porter escape in the hole in the clearer board, that'll provide adequate ventilation over winter with a solid floor.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

5/32 " slithers of quality timber fitted under the crownboad corners would give the bees more than adequate ventilation if on a solid floor, so no need to drill any holes

​

Apparently the BBKA approved cabinet maker Bryant and May do these in bulk quantity

 

[Skyhook]

No-one has mentioned matches yet.




Dusty,

5/32 " slithers of quality timber fitted under the crownboad corners would give the bees more than adequate ventilation if on a solid floor, so no need to drill any holes

Priono, just so you know- the BBKA recommend putting matches under the crownboard in winter to create a gap to allow through ventilation. This is generally reckoned on here to be a bad thing, just making the bees work harder to keep warm.

Icanhopit (I think) has his tongue in his cheek here.

Bees are very skilled at manipulating the airflow to maintain ideal conditions. Trust them- they've been doing it a lot longer than us!

.

 

[For want of a better word]

Well spotted Skyhook !!!


Icanhopit (I think) has his tongue in his cheek here.

 

[user 6228]

Begin
Loop:
If Hear ("Should I add top ventilation")

Explain heat and humidity loss through convection

Else if Hear ("My bees have top ventilation and they are fine")


Endif
goto loop
End

 

[itma]

Priono, just so you know- the BBKA recommend putting matches under the crownboard in winter to create a gap to allow through ventilation. ...

This advice, while relevant to solid-floor hives in winter, is obsolete when it comes to more modern mesh-floor hives.

/ Except, just possibly, during a real heatwave - which we aren't having. Even then, the bees will manage fine with just the mesh floor. Its just a question of would they manage even better if ...
And should you ever think of taking them on a long ride inside a car, you'd need to make special provision for ventilation during the journey.

 

[dudley]

Regarding ventilation, I have a question too?

My mentor always used solid floors, so my original hives in 2009 all had solid floors. Last year however I built my 1st hive with a mesh floor, no ventilation other than the mesh and the entrance. It thrived through the winter, although it was very mild winter.
It went into the winter no different to any other of my colonies, strength and stores all similar etc, but in the spring it rompt away from the others.
That maybe down to less varroa because of the mesh, I don't know yet we will find out when do a varroa count. But with regard to ventilation, should I insert a solid board over the mesh in the winter in future?

 

[For want of a better word]

My mentor always used solid floors, so my original hives in 2009 all had solid floors. Last year however I built my 1st hive with a mesh floor, no ventilation other than the mesh and the entrance. It thrived through the winter, although it was very mild winter.
It went into the winter no different to any other of my colonies, strength and stores all similar etc, but in the spring it rompt away from the others.
That maybe down to less varroa because of the mesh, I don't know yet we will find out when do a varroa count. But with regard to ventilation, should I insert a solid board over the mesh in the winter in future?

NO... as you will not be putting slithers of wood or other means of causing massive ventilation up there on the crown board.. you will be insulating it to keep heat in.. physical fact .. heat rises... could put a super below the brood if in a particularly windswept site over winter.
IMVLO of course!

 

[dudley]

NO... as you will not be putting slithers of wood or other means of causing massive ventilation up there on the crown board.. you will be insulating it to keep heat in.. physical fact .. heat rises... could put a super below the brood if in a particularly windswept site over winter.
IMVLO of course!

Makes sense. Like the idea of a super below the brood. The additional height may also break the necks of the mites when the fall.
Thanks.

 

[dudley]

NO... as you will not be putting slithers of wood or other means of causing massive ventilation up there on the crown board.. you will be insulating it to keep heat in.. physical fact .. heat rises... could put a super below the brood if in a particularly windswept site over winter.
IMVLO of course!

Makes sense. Like the idea of a super below the brood. The additional height may also break the necks of the mites when the fall.
Thanks.

 

[priono]

I actually thought about matches but i am still not sure what slithers are. when i think about slithers i think about that film. but i reckon this is not what you mean.

so after all, in winter with a board under or instead the mesh and a reduced entrance that will give me a sufficient ventilation as well during the summer with just the OMF and no additional holes. right?

 

[oliver90owner]

Just the mesh, all year round.

 

[Luminos]

Makes sense. Like the idea of a super below the brood. The additional height may also break the necks of the mites when the fall.
Thanks.