Some people aren’t aware of that, but there are. Each brings a different set of benefits to the table for each individual beekeeper. So if you have ever wondered which is better then this is the article for you. Let's look at the benefits of each, so you can decide which type of board most benefits you.
I have seen many people use solid bottom boards. But when I first got started no one really explained to me the benefits they could bring. So I automatically jumped to screen bottom boards. However, solid bottom boards definitely deserve a moment of your time and some consideration.
Solid bottom boards help keep your bees warmer during the blistery winter months.Because they keep the bees warmer you will find that it will also encourage your bees to brood earlier in the spring.
Because of the extra warmth a solid bottom board provides, you could well find more brood in the bottom of the hive.
I don’t really have this problem with my hive, but if you find that your bees actually clump under your hive a solid board is supposed to deter them from doing that.
If you live in a warmer climate with fire ants then you probably are willing to do whatever you can to keep them away from under your hives. Well, bottom boards can help with that too. Because the solid boards catch all of the hive debris then the loose debris will not attract ants to your hives.
Some people claim that they have better results at treating mites with solid boards. This would be because there is nowhere for the mites to run. It also means that you have less of an area to have to treat for mites because they won’t fall under your hives.
Another benefit of a solid board is that they are usually cheaper to buy. But they are also cheaper and easier to build too.
But before you get too sold on solid bottom boards let me introduce you to the benefits of screen bottom boards.
Truthfully, screen bottom boards are what my husband and I still use in our hives. We have been very satisfied with them and have found no reason to switch all of our hives over to solid bottom boards. That said, some of the benefits listed above are making me want to try them again.
However, screen bottom boards still have a ton of perks and from my experience are probably the better option for where we are in beekeeping.
Screen bottom boards are helpful with mites.When the bees clean themselves and remove mites, they will fall straight through the hive, instead of laying in the bottom and creating more work for you to clean or for your bees to have to take care of.
If you live in a super cold climate then you might need solid bottom boards for warmth. However, we don’t. We live in the south. This means that we have extremely hot summers. Winters can get cold but nothing in comparison to the winters that the north receives.
So for us screen bottom boards work well. You have to remember, bees need air even during the winter. We have found that screened bottom boards allow air to keep circulating. Bees are very smart creatures and know exactly how to regulate their hive’s temperature.
Obviously screen is see-through. Therefore, you can spot your queen and any other activity going on within the hive from the bottom if you need to. There are no surprises.
However, it should be mentioned that this benefit only applies if you have a see-through stand (like cinderblock.) And if you are willing to crawl around under your hive. My husband and I get this benefit because we are always on the look out for pests since we live in a wooded spot so we spend a lot of time inspecting under our hives.
And so we often check what is going on in our hives from a bottom view point especially in our larger hives. We have also been able to find our queen when we were struggling to find her in a larger hive because we used screened bottom boards.
Plus, it is a great benefit just to see what kind of activity your bees have going on. But as mentioned, this may not be a benefit many want to take advantage of, understandably so.
So now that we have discussed the benefits of both I want to give you some food for thought.
Solid boards obviously do not allow debris to fall through your hive. This means that you will have bugs in the bottom of your hives, pollen, propalis, and bees wax.
So if you aren’t in the mood to pull a carpet like substance out of the bottom of your hive then you will probably not want to go with the solid bottom boards.
Screen bottom boards are mesh. This means that pests can climb up through them. We battle this ourselves.
And even if you try to stop pests then you have to treat your stands, under your hives, and anywhere else they can sneak through because of the mesh. It gets frustrating at times.
Bees need ventilation. If you live in a really cold climate then the screen board might provide a little too much ventilation for your bees. But if you live in a warmer climate then the solid bottom boards could actually make your hives stuffy for the bees.
So this is a personal choice you’ll have to make depending upon where you live.
I recommend that you don’t make a large investment in either if you have multiple hives. If you have only 1 or 2 then I recommend that you make the small investment in one of each and try them out yourself.
This will give you hands on experience for your particular area and the challenges (that all beekeepers face) that are unique to your hive.
For instance, we have friends that also keep bees. Their hives don’t have a single pest in them. But they also keep them in direct sunlight year round.
However, we face challenges with pests because our bees get a mixture of splattered sunlight and full sunlight throughout the day.
So for them, using a screen board might not be that different from using a solid board. For us, solid boards would probably help with the pest problem, but we do still use screen bottom boards for ventilation and cleanliness purposes.
The PerfectBee Store stocks both screened and solid bottom boards, made with cedar which is an excellent insulator.
I think choosing a solid or screened bottom board is a personal beekeeping choice, because we all have our bees in different geographical location and locations that vary in sunlight and other elements that can impact our experiences.
We look forward to hearing from you. Please leave your comments below.
I wonder if using ecopol strips under a screened bottom board in a pan would work. That way it won't be necessary to open the hive to treat for mites. What do you think?
Hey, I live in Lexington, Kentucky so we get a mix of cold and hot weather every year.
I was a bee keeper some 30-35 years ago but was way to busy back then. I am now retired and now have one hive looking for more.
I like the idea of using both the solid and the screen bottoms. What about a bottom that gives you both?
Can you make a bottom with the cut out for a screen and place a 3 sided track under the bottom so you can slide a screen or a solid board into the tracked bottom depending on the season of the year?
This would also give you an opportunity to get through a bad situation should your hive be attacked by ants etc.
I live in ohio and I use a screen bottom board. This year I cut out 3/4 inch plywood to fit up against the screen (14 1/2 x 18 somewhere around that)to block the air flow. So in the winter I can replace the board and in the summer when it starts getting hot. I can take the plywood out and the screen is still in, and the air flow is back to keep the hive cool. Plus a side note is I also keep a top entrance in to top cover in the summer, and I replace to top cover with a hive quilt block on top for the winter.
i have screened bottom hives here in texas it gets hot all the way to late october my bees were bringing pollen in in february, i just bought 4 hives with solid bottoms, the bottoms were filthy, had to scrape them, my hives are full sun all day,and i have little pest problems with them .One of the solid bottom hives had wax moths varoia mites and hive beetles ,it was a total loss .On my screend bottoms i can insert a baffel during the winter months.And have no problems
I've read (and seen) that a lot of pollen gets lost with screen bottom boards, but I have a lot of reasons for wanting screen, including the luxury of having a look from underneath without having to open the hive. So I've gotten my DH to make some bottom boards that are half screen, half board. My main incentive is the way hive beetles huddle in corners on most bottom boards. So in the crucial screened section, the screen is between treated bottom rails, and untreated 3/4" x 3/4". It's easy to cut and keep a piece of plastic well covered with lime jammed up pretty close to the screen with no gaps for beetles, adults or larvae to get in or out. I've got just 2 of this kind of bottom in use, and want to switch my hives over to it this year. Every time I made a split into solid bottom nucs, the beetles ate all brood. Once my new half screen bottom was installed, the remaining nuc prospered.
Can you use the screen board in the Spring/Summer and then change to a solid board for the cooler/cold months?
That is my question as well. We just did the swap today from solid to screen for summer in Utah.
I have 2 hives. Both are newish.I’ve noticed that mine clump on the bottom under the mesh (bottom of the hive).
Should I put in the sticky bottom board to keep them from clumping?
Will they figure out not to clump there?
I also have about a 2 inch landing area. Do they need one bigger?
I have several hives, but mine are a little different from most. I put 2 inch pipe in the ground, and built my hive on top of it, I have a cone built half way up the pipe that i put oil in, this keeps all pests from crawling into my hives. My hives, that I built myself, have a board in the bottom that can be removed, and replaced with a screened board, so when it gets cold I just change boards. I have been raising bees for a few years now, and I don't have the problems with wax moths or hive beetles. Central Texas.
If you want to see through the screen, what is happening in the hive, you do not have to climb under the hive! Slide the mirror under the screen at a 30 ° angle or more and you can see everything wthat is happening there.
In many instances can be done while standing.