Vaping and inspection tray

[Gaz1]

Treated with apiguard in the autumn. Thinking of vaping depending on mite drop when it gets colder (Mid Jan maybe) at the start of the year I had tray in and crownboard open but have now changed to OMF crown board holes closed with insulation in the roof. Question is do you just put the tray in and have the entrance as the only form of ventilation or while the tray is in do people open the crown hole?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

There is never any need to open the holes in the crown board for 'ventilation' whether the inspection tray is in or out. The bees can sort it out - Ignore the dinosaurs

 

[Erichalfbee]

There is no need to have the inspection tray in for anything else but inspections either. Monitor for a few days and let the bees sort out the ventilation. In the summer a much better way of estimating mite load is to sample the bees. Alcohol wash or sugar roll. I do mine before supers go on and after harvest.
Ps the bees don't actually need an open floor either. If you have your entrance block in the widest position ( I don't like entirely out and never do it) the bees will cope quite happily in our climate

 

[Gaz1]

Ok cheers was only going to put the tray in to give a rough idea of mite load to see if vaping was needed as I did an autumn treatment. But I thought most left the tray out and holes closed OR solid floor with crown holes open

 

[drex]

It is recommended to winter vape when outside temp is 4-10 degrees. Most think that the time when there is likely to be the least brood in the hive is Nov-Dec. Put the board in only for the few days needed to monitor the drop. When vaping the hive needs to be completely closed while the vapours disperse. I open up the entrance and the sponge stuffed in the back above the board after about ten mins and leave the tray in for next week to get an idea of the kill rate

 

[charlievictorbravo]

I use an under floor entrance under my 14x12 Nationals. I don't need mouse-guards because the mice can't get in but there is a 9mm x 420mm entrance gap, which I think gives them all the ventilation they'll need so I leave my monitoring board in place all winter and, er, monitor.

I can tell whether they're opening stores, whether there's brood, whether slugs etc. have got in as well as checking the natural mite drop over time. I can do this because my bees are in my garden - not sure I'd monitor so much if they were 5 miles away!

CVB

 

[Erichalfbee]

In my association there are quite a few going back to solid floors. Some never went over to OMF

 

[Millet]

In my association there are quite a few going back to solid floors. Some never went over to OMF

WHY go back to a a unchangeable solid floor, if we keep a open mesh floor we have two options, seal it or leave it open with the added bonus of knowing what is going on in there from the inspection tray, if you want it solid leave the inspection tray in till the cow's come home.
Obviously cleaning it now and then.