Rubber mat

[Gadgetman]

I'm thinking of placing a large rubber mat (from a farm supplies shop) under my hives to stop the weeds & grass and so I can clearly see what's dropping out of the hives.

Do you think the slight rubber smell will upset them or mess with the bees pheromone communications?

 

[pargyle]

I doubt it....

 

[Roger.Wilco]

thinking of placing a large rubber mat (from a farm supplies shop) under my hives

I'm not sure of the cost of a large rubber mat?

If you have a landscape supplies place anywhere near you; go talk to them. As in my experience they often have 2nd grade (small chips, orphaned colors etc...) paving/patio slabs & tiles for either the cost of a chat or a gold-colored coin.

Typical sizes are 600mm x 600mm or 600mm x 300mm or 450mm x 450mm etc...

They will outlast the hives.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

how will they degauss themselves

 

[pargyle]

I'm not sure of the cost of a large rubber mat?

If you have a landscape supplies place anywhere near you; go talk to them. As in my experience they often have 2nd grade (small chips, orphaned colors etc...) paving/patio slabs & tiles for either the cost of a chat or a gold-colored coin.

Typical sizes are 600mm x 600mm or 600mm x 300mm or 450mm x 450mm etc...

They will outlast the hives.

My hives stand on paving slabs - an assorted mix picked up on Freecycle (there are always some on there). The local recycling lot decided they were going to charge £3 per item or rubble sack for 'builders waste' and whilst there is a free allowance of four items per month for DIY'ers there are always people trying to rid themselves of outdated patio slabs.

 

[peterbees]

I place old sheets of corrugated iron in front of the twin rail hive stands, which each hold two hives.
Easy to see any hive detritus
Easy to brush clean
Provides a home for mice, instead of them using my hives as a winter home.
Can provide a home for slow worms.
I learned this trick in a talk from Bob Parsonage, Cheshre BKA many years ago.