>I am considering adding queen excluders to my two first year hives and
>was wondering if it would be a good idea (or is it standard practice) to
>drill a hole or some other opening above the excluder for the workers to
>enter and exit more easily?  Thanks for your replies on this matter.
 
Extra entrances always risk robbing as the bees have a further entrance to
defend and this is a weakness.  I have never seen any advantage in
permanently creating an extra entrance - in extremely hot weather there is a
presumed advantage to extra air circulation and some beekeepers move the
super slightly off centre or prop it on a sliver of wood to provide a
temporary entrance and save crowding in the brood box.  Again there is a
risk of robbing and supervision of the hive activity is necessary.
I have never found it necessary - if bees have access to water they can cool
even a populous hive with several supers very effectively.
 
Betty McAdam
HOG BAY APIARY
Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
j.h. & e. mcadam<[log in to unmask]
http://kigateway.eastend.com.au/hogbay/hogbay1.htm