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jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 5:02 pm Post subject: Mouse guards
How many of you put these on their hives over Winter? And how do you fix them on? This web page shows exactly what I've got and they've used drawing pins. I wondered about doing something with velcro patches.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 5:13 pm Post subject:

If you have removeable entrance blocks then the small gap when they are on is just narrow enough to stop a mouses head being able to get in. I have a few hives from an ex honey farm that are too narrow for entrance blocks and they are this minimum width /height across the whole hive. Can't remember measurement offhand but it'll be in your bee book so if the space with block is this size , no need to bother with extra grille---sorry that was a bit longwinded but not with my reference books to give u measurement at the minute. We've never had to get mouseguards and have never had a problem.
p.s. sorry just realised you've got the measurements

p.p.s why velcro patches insteadv of drawing pins if you want to use a mouse guard?

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 7:40 pm Post subject:
I have got an entrance block as you can see here. I just thought velcro might cause less disturbance than banging in pins.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 7:52 pm Post subject:
we use drawing pins and Tim was just saying that when he put them on last year he was able to just push the pins in without resorting to a hammer

jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 7:58 pm Post subject:
Thanks. I'll get Sean to drill holes then. What about fondant? How do you feed that? I've been told to mould it into a marg tub and put it over the feeding hole, and also seen it just plonked over the hole.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 8:02 pm Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

Thanks. I'll get Sean to drill holes then.

What about fondant? How do you feed that? I've been told to mould it into a marg tub and put it over the feeding hole, and also seen it just plonked over the hole.

we were told to give that to the bees as a Christmas pressy and just cut an X in the pack, fold the plastic back and place over the gap in the glass quilt where the porter bee escape normally goes.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 8:12 pm Post subject:
Don't give them fondant yet-- with the present good weather they might still process syrup--mine are on the ivy anyway,---after xmas if they're short then fondant as mrs F says-- check new years day or as close to depending on weather,---just press drawing pins in for mouse guards---no need to drill holes---but if you measure your hive blocks it looks to me that you don't need mouse guards anyway

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 8:22 pm Post subject:
Really? I was planning to do it from the beginning of October, though they are coming in with pollen, and taking the syrup out of the frame feeder. They don't seem to like the miller feeder very much. They have lots of stores and capped brood. The drones are paying the price for their life of Riley at the moment. Saw a couple on the grass gasping their last today.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 8:51 pm Post subject:

You don't need to feed fondant automatically after christmas, only if they are short of stores, if they have plenty of stores and we have a good winter they will probably be O.K.---I am a bit cynical about the "experts" hive hefting stuff though---this year we checked very quickly on the first clement day after christmas and decided to give fondant and they all survived the winter. The hive hefters decided they were o.k. and lost colonies, but at the end of the day it's a judgement call. Nowadays you have to open the hive up anyway for the oxalic acid so can have aquick peek then.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 9:21 pm Post subject:
Does this all apply the same to a little colony? I only got my Nuc half way through August (five full frames of bees). Due to the rubbish weather they didn't get much foraging done for the first few weeks, so I've been trying to fatten them up so to speak. They've drawn out and almost filled one new frame in that time and I put a new frame on today.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 9:43 pm Post subject:
If all your eggs are in one basket like that I'd be shoving all the 2lbs sugar/1pint water syrup down them they'd take now and plonk a slashed open bag of fondant over the hole you've taken the porter bee escape off after christmas---they are just too expensive to buy to grudge a bit of extra sugar. It's easier for them to take the stores than the fondant---so better to stuff in what you can now.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 9:48 pm Post subject:

lottie wrote:

If all your eggs are in one basket like that I'd be shoving all the 2lbs sugar/1pint water syrup down them they'd take now and plonk a slashed open bag of fondant over the hole you've taken the porter bee escape off after christmas---they are just too expensive to buy to grudge a bit of extra sugar.

I'm doing the first thing. I was told not to put liquid sugar on them after the end of Sept, but to move to the fondant. You would keep the syrup on and move to the fondant later?

I haven't got a porter bee escape

Pootles off to look them up....

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 9:55 pm Post subject:
OK. I'm being dim. Why should I have a Porter bee escape on now? I'm not trying to get any honey off - I haven't even got a super on (except as a lift to make room for the top feeder).

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 10:13 pm Post subject:

You shouldn't---sorry I was on auto pilot remembing to take them off after taking the honey before putting other stuff in. Mine are still processing some syrup---dates are a bit flexible. I was suprised you had been told to put fondant on now rather than after christmas but there are no rigid rules with beekeeping and anything that keeps them alive in the winter is fine---if it works let me know and I'll give mine fondant earlier next year

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 08 10:19 pm Post subject:
That's all right then. I was getting worried then. I'll let you know how I get on - and will no doubt be back with more daft questions sooner rather than later.

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