Content-Transfer-Encoding: |
7bit |
Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Tue, 6 Feb 2007 16:40:51 +1000 |
Content-Type: |
text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original |
MIME-Version: |
1.0 |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
> I reread Jay Smith's book on queen rearing several times.
> In the book he states the following:
> <A small mating hive should not have a ventilator, as the air will blow
> in
> through it and cause <the bees to realize their weakness and they will
> abscond.
Not having read the book in question, I am answering from my own
experiences.
First up how small is small? What size nuc, what size frames and how many?
I use what I call mini nucs which is four (4) nucs in a box which are
separated by metal divides. It would hold six (6) normal length frames but
we run the frames the other way. It is based on the experiences over many
years of Norm Rice, now retired, who was one of the most innovative queen
bee breeders in Australia. Each nuc holds three (3) frames which are full
depth ( about 9 inches) and half length ( about 9 1/2 inches). They hold
together very well. To winter, I just pull out the divides and run it as a
12 frame nuc with one queen. Each nuc has a ventilation hole about one (1)
inch wide with mesh with two(2) mm holes over it. The entrance is down the
bottom and is about one (1) inch long and about 3/8 inch high.
I believe the ventilation is necessary to assist the bees. How climate is
probably hotter than ours. At present we are getting days around 33-36
degrees centrigrade and nights about 20-23.
> What's the opinion out there from your experience nowadays
> Are ventilators necessary or is the -half inch entrance hole on an angle
> in
> the middle as he states -enough.
Is this entrance in the middle, meaning height wise? If so, I would
recommend that you have the entrance at floor level. If the entrance is
half way up the side, then the bees find it very hard to get rid of hive
debris and any water will pond in the bottom of the nuc. If it is at floor
level, they can remove debris very easily and water runs out.
FWIW.
Trevor Weatherhead
Hoping you have looked at www.apimondia2007.com
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---
|
|
|