I wonder what are folks thoughts and experiences with regards to ventilation ?
Winter is one thought for later in the year but I am thinking more of so called Summer.
In recent times I have started to go back to solid floors but with a varroa mesh above and no ventilation on the crown board as my bees most always seal it up. I was once asked why I have no top ventilation, my answer was that I had never seen my bees fanning the entrance....
Do we give ventilation just because we are taught by the BBKA and other rote teaching without any evidence for its use ??
Last year my strongest and most productive colony was one that I had failed to realise I had left the varroa section in place.
Me, I think that open mesh floors need a rethink. What evidence do we have that mite fall is nothing more than just old dead mites who are not able to rejoin the colony and would be dead regardless of the floor. I have taken control of some very very old colonies a few years ago on solid floors and they were immaculate. The comb was black as death but the colonies were amazing......Are we missing something....??
Winter is one thought for later in the year but I am thinking more of so called Summer.
In recent times I have started to go back to solid floors but with a varroa mesh above and no ventilation on the crown board as my bees most always seal it up. I was once asked why I have no top ventilation, my answer was that I had never seen my bees fanning the entrance....
Do we give ventilation just because we are taught by the BBKA and other rote teaching without any evidence for its use ??
Last year my strongest and most productive colony was one that I had failed to realise I had left the varroa section in place.
Me, I think that open mesh floors need a rethink. What evidence do we have that mite fall is nothing more than just old dead mites who are not able to rejoin the colony and would be dead regardless of the floor. I have taken control of some very very old colonies a few years ago on solid floors and they were immaculate. The comb was black as death but the colonies were amazing......Are we missing something....??