Upper entrances are a good thing for bees in the winter, but if you’re using a feeding/upper entrance shim, or an extra-deep inner cover you may wonder if the hole is the right size to do the job without over-chilling the bees. Why not leave it up to the experts — the bees? Follow these easy instructions for making an upper entrance wind baffle that bees can adjust by themselves, as needed.
How to make an upper entrance wind baffle
A wind baffle protects against windy or rainy weather. To make an upper entrance wind baffle that accommodates the comings and goings of your bees, gather up a few materials — you can find most of them around the house — and follow the steps outlined below.
Supplies list
- Corrugated cardboard, preferably from food cartons to ensure it is not contaminated
- Thumb tacks (4 per hive)
- Push pins (at least 8 per hive)
- Wood window/door shim (a dozen cost about a dollar at any hardware store
- Scissors
Step-by-step instructions
- Cut a square of cardboard that’s about 1.5 inches larger than the diameter of the entrance hole. Use the tip of a scissor blade to punch a small hole in the center, then enlarge the hole with the tip of your pinky finger. An opening about 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter is good.
- Cut another piece of cardboard in a rectangle that’s about 3 ½ by 7 inches. It’s important to have the interior channels of the corrugations in the cardboard run parallel to the short dimension. Fold the cardboard at the center, along the short axis, to create a shallow bend.
- Use thumb tacks to attach the small square of cardboard over the hive upper entrance hole. The bees will chew through the cardboard to make the size of the hole exactly what they need. They will also close it back up with propolis if they change their minds.
- Place the rectangle of cardboard over the hole, keeping the bend in the cardboard about an inch away from the hive, and centered over the upper entrance opening. This makes a wind-protected space in front of the actual entrance. Use push pins to secure this piece on all four corners.
- Lay a wood door shim on top of the outer cardboard, covering up the open “V” at the bend and creating a little roof over the “vestibule” behind the cardboard. Jam several push pins on top of the door shim to keep it securely in place.
This extremely low-tech method offers surprising durability, with the pieces staying securely on the hive for months. The bees readily accept it and you will often find a bunch of them peeking out from their shelter to assess the weather for the day.
For more beekeeping tips and tricks, explore our Beekeeper’s Guide.
