Hello Again:
 
        A question to the group.
 
        I have two 'traditional' excluders, wood framed metal rods w/welded
        cross members. I have scraped them so that the metal grid is clean
        and yet when I place these excluders on the hive and watch the bees'
        reaction what I see is that most bees, excepting the smaller younger
        bees, can't get through the space between metal rods.
 
        Excluders don't come in different sized spacing do they?
 
        Do I have defective excluders or fat bees?
 
        No wonder they took so long to move honey into supers above the
        excluders last year. They couldn't fit!
 
        At our summer beekeepers' meeting it was suggested to put excluders
between
        the entrance board and the brood chamber to keep mice out but allow
        the entrance to remain open for ventilation. I think its a great idea
        but now I'm worried that it may prevent cleansing flights if they can't
        get down through the excluder.
 
        While we're on the subject, what experience does anyone have with the
        plastic sheet excluders? Pros/Cons?
 
        I have two of them also but have never tried using them.
 
        Thanks for your input in advance.
 
        Regards,
 
Tim Peters, Kirby VT
[log in to unmask]
KirBee Apiary, Bear Bait Honey
I rather be flying!