Space in Hive.

[Marco666]

Hi everyone,
I've got a polystyrene Hive and it came with a plastic sheet that I think it is supposed to go between the brood box and the roof. The issue I've got is that when I put it in place, the bees can't walk on top of the frames anymore. Is that a problem? Should they have more space at the top or it is ok for them to move from a frame to another using just the bottom of the frame?
Thank you very much.
Marco.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi everyone,
I've got a polystyrene Hive and it came with a plastic sheet that I think it is supposed to go between the brood box and the roof. The issue I've got is that when I put it in place, the bees can't walk on top of the frames anymore. Is that a problem?

not at all - it's designed that way so that the bees don't glue the lid to the top of the frames - and that really is a PITA

 

[BeeJayBee]

Should they have more space at the top or it is ok for them to move from a frame to another using just the bottom of the frame?

It isn't a problem. Bees will attach comb to the top of whatever cavity they live in, so can't normally walk above the top of the comb.

 

[wessexmario]

and if the bee space in your hive is correct, they should be able to go around the sides of the frames as well.

 

[Marco666]

Thank you very much.

 

[Marco666]

Thanks a lot, I'm relieved!

 

[Marco666]

Thank you very much!

 

[itma]

Marco, that is the way most polyhives are sold.

Doesn't mean its the best way, but its sort of adequate, and its cheap.

A stiff/rigid (not sagging) coverboard with a frame to provide beespace over the frame topbars is a great improvement.
Same goes for a rigid wire Queen eXcluder in a beespace frame.

The beespace frame makes it VERY much easier to replace coverboard and QX after inspection, without crushing bees.

You can buy framed polycarbonate coverboards for not much under £20. I've made some (that work perfectly satisfactorily) from twinwall glazing sheet, 10mm sq stripwood, some glue, staples and aluminium sticky tape. Cost probably under £7 each.

For the future (Autumn) you may want to make a (framed) plywood coverboard with a hole in it. Such a thing can be the basis of a clearing board (for emptying bees from supers) and a feeding board (supporting some sort of feeder). If you put a 3" approx rim on one side and a 10mm (beespace) rim on the other, you are set for both jobs. Its only needed for a few weeks of the year, and ply supports weight better than plastic, so I compromise on the transparency...

 

[Marco666]

Thank you very much. Brilliant!