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Bottom Board and Inner

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  • March 13, 2016 at 1:18 pm #10256
    Melissa Ozeas
    Participant

    Hello!

    I’m never had bees before and I’m planning for my first hive. Do people recommend using a screened bottom board or a solid bottom board in Los Angeles? I live in the valley where it’s hot but my hive will be in dappled shade for half the day. At a mentoring session, someone mentioned cutting 4 holes in the bottom of the bottom board and then stapling a screen over the holes which seems like good idea for ventilation. Just curious about what has worked for people who live in Los Angeles. Also, do people recommend using an inner cover, a screened inner cover or none at all? Is the inner cover necessary?

    Thank you!

    – Missy Ozeas

    March 13, 2016 at 7:40 pm #10257
    susan rudnicki
    Participant

    Missy—I remember you at various events! Do you have a mentor yet? Do you have a source for obtaining your bees?
    These questions are something you would be well to experiment with to see what works in your setting. None of them are expensive. I use both types of cover systems. I have one client hive on a screened bottom board in Redondo Beach, and they do very well. Even in Winter, the heat is going to the top and the open bottom does not seem like a burden to them. Most of my bottom boards have 2 inch diameter holes drilled out with 1/8 inch screening wire cloth stapled over the hole on the interior. With trying a SBB, you can always put in the insert if you decide you want to close them up. Susan

    March 13, 2016 at 9:13 pm #10261
    Melissa Ozeas
    Participant

    Hi Susan! Thanks for your advice. I will drill holes in a bottom board as you suggested. And I’ll go ahead and get the inner cover and see how it goes. My plan, which may be crazy, is to try to bait my hive. I hear a lot of bees in a certain tree on my property and every year around this time about 30 bees come down my chimney. I’m guessing they are scouting for a new home? Plan B is to get them from an acquaintance who catches swarms and lives not too far from me. Or, I was going to ask to get on your list of people who are looking for bees! I do not have a mentor yet. I’ve been volunteering for almost a year at HoneyLove to learn from all of you. I also have a few neighbors who are urban beekeepers so I’ve been following them around. The only problem is that they are not treatment free beekeepers so we differ on some issues.

    – Missy

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