Openings for my top bar hives

[watercarving]

I can't decide how to do my openings. Do you think it's better to have several 3/4" holes across the front entrance or just a long slit? Should I have a hole up high on the front for ventilation?

Thanks.

[Robo]

I had one with 1/2" x 6"  open perpendicular to the bars right under the bars, one with 1/2" x6" opening perpendicular to the bars at the bottom, a barrel hive with a bung opening at the bottom.   All seemed to work fine, but I seem to like the upper entrance better as they seemed to fly earlier/colder that the other ones.  Granted with the limited sample size, I can't really draw any conclusions.

[Moonshae]

From what I understand, people tend to close/plug holes in the winter and reopen them when the weather gets warmer. Seems that stoppers in round holes would be best for that.

[bassman1977]

I had one with 1/2" x 6"  open perpendicular to the bars right under the bars

I don't have any practical experience yet, but for what it is worth, with the TBH I am going to build, I am planning the above.  I think I read somewhere that 1/4" is good enough.  If that is the case, I am going 1/4".

[Robo]

Although 1/4"  may be enough, I think you will find that they try to chew it bigger.  Even the Langstroths use 3/8" for winter.

[bassman1977]

Cool...thanks for the info.

[Michael Bush]

Mine are all just a gap at the front bar, and no hole.  If the bars are not recessed this is all you need.  If the bars are recessed then you need to prop the lid 1/4" to get an entrance.  I hate drilling holes in equipment. When I had a bottom entrance on my top bar hive I had skunk problems.