Jim asked:

Since you have a kit, maybe you can answer some questions:

a) Is there any sort of "vent" at the base of the hive?

Though it was available as a kit (bottom board, inner cover, entrance box
and top), I had the same ventilation concerns as you with his solid bottom
board.  I elected to only purchase the cover and top entrance combination.
I installed standard deep brood boxes on a screened bottom board (entrance
closed) which hopefully will give adequate ventilation through the top
entrance and notched inner cover or raised outer cover.  The entrance
consists of a 4 inch by 1 inch opening.

b) Is the outer cover really placed directly on the top super?

I will try to describe this patented top entrance system.  It consists of a
3 inch deep box with the inside filled in with a hollow box with bee space
around 3 sides.  The front side has a 4 inch by 4 inch cutout allowing bees
to go from the brood box below to the supers, feeders, etc. above as well as
out the entrance.  The entrance looking at it from the front is 4 inch by 1
inch.  I would think the hollow box would provide some dead air space
insulating capacity.

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I am not sure my sketches do it justice.  If anyone is interested, email me
directly and I will send photos.


c) Is the entrance somehow expandable to full hive-width?

No, the entrance is 4 X 1 fixed width cut into the box.  The inventor of
this system says he has been using it for over  5 years with no problems.
With the entrance being two deeps off the ground it should eliminate any
animal predation.

d) When it gets hot and muggy, will the bees cover the front face
   of the hive?  I'd like to hear about this, if you care to post
   "results" later in the season.

I have two "normal" hives adjacent to this new system for comparison.  I
will report later any significant results as to how they handle the Ohio
humid summer and if I get robbing through the entrance into the hive top
feeder.

glenn

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