Bee Hive Circulation

[John Billig]

Since it has been very hot the last few days, made me wonder about screen bottoms. I currently have a have that is two deep boxes high (10 frame). The bottom box is built out and I just recently added the second deep box. I don’t have a screen bottom and was looking for feedback on those here in the Ventura area. I have my hive set up in Oak Park.

thanks,
John

[susan rudnicki]

HI, John. You are right to be concerned with heat build-up in our more hot summer weather. I had several large colonies (3-4 deeps and 2 honey supers) that suffered collapsed combs last summer during a 90 degree heat wave here in Manhattan Beach in my large apiary (22 colonies) Since I keep my hives foundationless and no wire in the frames, the heat with conventional lids in place was too much for my bees to moderate. The result was a river of spilling honey running out the entrance and the floor vents from collapsing honey combs. I now have fitted all the hives with screened tops underneath the migratory lids that are turned over from the usual position to create a 1/2 inch shaded air space to allow heat venting. The tops are a simple wood frame with window screen stapled to the edges so that bee-space is maintained but the free flow of hot air is naturally funneled upward. Screened bottom boards are another option, but obviously heat rises, so I am not as sure of their effectiveness if it gets really hot.
By the way, when you added the upper deep box, did you brood up some of the brood frames to the middle of the new box to encourage the opening up of the brood nest? This is a important management of the impulse to swarm, something we must control more carefully near our urban non-beekeeping neighbors.

[Author]

Posts