Screened Bottom Boards vs Solid Bottom Boards - Which is Better?

[@PGrace-ch8mj]

I'm a new beekeeper - getting my first hives this season - this was VERY helpful. THANK YOU!

[@michaelorourke399]

starting this spring myself....good luck

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Pay attention to the commercial beekeepers. Bob Binnie, Ian Steppler and Kamon Reynolds come to mind.

[@PGrace-ch8mj]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper I am going to the Hive Life Conference again this year. Kamon doesn't live too far from me and sometimes shows up at the Bee Association I go to. I find his videos very helpful. Bob Binnie and Ian Stepler are both in my subscriptions in You Tube. I find them helpful as well. I've met Bob, he's very down to earth and helpful.

[@tonywhetham8165]

We use only screened bottom boards. Our hives are in the Madawaska Valley, Ontario. Very cold winters. In the winter we put 1/4 inch Cornings pink insulation sheets in place of the plastic inserts. Knock wood, we haven't lost a hive to winter conditions yet in 4 years.

[@roberth293]

very good review of the pros and cons of each - thank you!

[@Amethyst1919]

Some people say that a screened bottom board encourages robbing since the honey smell is not contained... others say the screen can act like a robbing screen confusing potential robbers as to where the entrance it...

[@beeman1246]

Good presentation. I use screened bottom boards on all my hives. They are closed only during varroa treatments and february and march. One thing beekeeper must remember not the cold but the moisture kills the bees. Two weeks with -25C and open b.board no problem.

[@rstlr01]

I run open screened bottom board year around in southern Minnesota. Winter survival rates were better than my solid bottom boards.

[@PGrace-ch8mj]

Question? What is the reason you do not use the screened bottom board on small colonies? (or on only large colonies?)

[@CaptnScott]

I'm in Utah it gets kinda hot for a little in the summer and does snow in the winter, any suggestions? And if I use the screen bottom board can I just wrap the bottom like insulating an irrigation box? Should I build a door where you pull the board under the screen so the junk doesn't scrape off?

[@Peter-od7op]

Iam new but i use screened boards i get to see mites hive beetles and when i use oav. I dont run risk burning hives or bees

[@waynebungartz3737]

why not use a screen in the summer and a solid in the winter

[@alhayahna3298]

when u talk u seems u dont to talk

[@opinionatedfool]

Lol, what a dumb comment