Would you cover these holes?

[RogerIvy]

This hive was a gift from my family for Fathers Day, I managed to catch a swarm into it yesterday.

I've read elsewhere about closing ventilation holes unless it's really hot.
So would you close these holes?

 

[Swarm]

Are those just escape holes in the roof?

 

[user 819]

No don't close those holes off they will make an excellent nesting site for wasps, blue tits or even another swarm .

They are unwanted and tbh block them up, infill space with insulation to keep the colony temperature more stable all year round.

 

[RogerIvy]

Are those just escape holes in the roof?

Yes, the hive comes with a mesh crown so bees can't get there unless through the holes (which quite a few did, I brushed them out).

 

[user 819]

Often the mesh will be propolised, the bees way of saying not required. Also saves buying matchsticks .

 

[Swarm]

Looks like a Langstroth or a Commercial? The holes would normally be fitted with a bee escape. The mesh sounds like a travel screen if it's on top of the hive. Your crown board should be a solied board, plywood.
What is the floor like? Could this mesh be intended for an open mesh floor?

 

[Finman]

Yes, the hive comes with a mesh crown so bees can't get there unless through the holes (which quite a few did, I brushed them out).

Don't keep any holes open from hive to loft. Bees cannot control the hive temperature if loft to the hive is open. Those holes are meant to ventilate the loft. Those are big holes. You may put a mesh to the holes that wasps and so on cannot start to make nest there.

 

[Finman]

What is the floor like? Could this mesh be intended for an open mesh floor?

Surely not.

 

[RogerIvy]

Looks like a Langstroth or a Commercial? The holes would normally be fitted with a bee escape. The mesh sounds like a travel screen if it's on top of the hive. Your crown board should be a solied board, plywood.
What is the floor like? Could this mesh be intended for an open mesh floor?

It's a flow hive, so Langstroth brood frames.
It has a good solid floor, I'm not sure where the mesh is meant to be.
It didn't come with a solid crown - I'll probably make one

 

[pargyle]

It's a flow hive, so Langstroth brood frames.
It has a good solid floor, I'm not sure where the mesh is meant to be.
It didn't come with a solid crown - I'll probably make one

It's not a genuine flow hive, it's a chinese copy .. I suspect the 'mesh' you are talking about ...it's the floor ...

Have a look at this video:



The crap design (because it is supposed to have a flow-style super on top of the brood box) does not come with a crown board - the roof just sits on top of the super -and you are not going to need a super on it this year.

Sadly, you probably need to look your gift horse in the mouth .. you need a crown board (no holes please) block up the holes in the roof and put some insulation in the roof space. As I understand the appalling design the mesh sits on the bottom of the brood box and immediately over the top of a solid floor ... so you are going to get loads of crud dropping through the mesh and sitting on top of the floor where the bees can't get at it to clean it ...

Plus .. they tend to be non-standard sized Langstroth so you may find Langstroth components from UK Bee suppliers don't fit all that well.

Pig in a poke to continue the farming analogies ..., sorry. In my estimation one step away from very expensive firewood.

Sell it and buy a national hive set up whilst it is still new ...

If you want to see some of the issues wtth the flow hive ...best watch this video as well:



Phil Chandler is an experienced beekeeper - his reputation as the Barefoot Beekeeper was sorely taxed doing this video - 28 minutes of excruciating, bee crushing, awkward chaos with just two frame of honey and thousands of pissed off, stinging, bees as the result. In the immortal words of Dirty Harry .... Do you feel lucky ?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It's a flow hive,

Oh dear

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It's not a genuine flow hive, it's a chinese copy .. I suspect the 'mesh' you are talking about ...it's the floor ...

Have a look at this video:



The crap design (because it is supposed to have a flow-style super on top of the brood box) does not come with a crown board - the roof just sits on top of the super -and you are not going to need a super on it this year.

Sadly, you probably need to look your gift horse in the mouth .. you need a crown board (no holes please) block up the holes in the roof and put some insulation in the roof space. As I understand the appalling design the mesh sits on the bottom of the brood box and immediately over the top of a solid floor ... so you are going to get loads of crud dropping through the mesh and sitting on top of the floor where the bees can't get at it to clean it ...

Plus .. they tend to be non-standard sized Langstroth so you may find Langstroth components from UK Bee suppliers don't fit all that well.

Pig in a poke to continue the farming analogies ..., sorry. In my estimation one step away from very expensive firewood.

Sell it and buy a national hive set up whilst it is still new ...

Maisemore's three day sale ends tomorrow - get in there quick and get yourself kitted out with a proper hive.

 

[RogerIvy]

It's not a genuine flow hive, it's a chinese copy .. I suspect the 'mesh' you are talking about ...it's the floor ...

Thanks that's some handy info ... much appreciated.
I knew it wasn't the genuine article, and the single sheet of badly printed instructions was hardly legible.

It will be my "fun project" and I'll adapt the thing. I'll put in a solid crown and lose the mesh floor. Also insulate the roof - probably fill it with foam and slice excess foam off. As you mentioned, this year I'll only use the brood box and next year I may or may not buy those fancy frames ... or I'll go with standard Langstroth wooden frames. My family really want to watch the bees through the window. I suspect they won't see much at all once the bees walk over the perspex a few times.

I do have National hives and a TBH. I think the National Hive was a great British project. Clearly so much thought went into it. The TBH was a test project with my son to see how easily old pallets can be re-purposed.

 

[pargyle]

Credit to you ... I really admire masochists ....I try and make my life difficult and complicated but I rather feel you have even superceded my antics with the bees and hives.

The one thing that really makes beekeeping awkward in so many respects is having mismatched kit ... for all those beginnners watching: DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF HIVE YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP BEES IN AND STICK WITH IT ... Different hives and mismatched kit are going to lead to frustration.