# Converting FlowHive to Top Entrance **URL:** \ **Category:** Beekeeping - Basics\ **Created:** [March 14, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730 "2016-03-14T17:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eurydc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/eurydc/32/2628_2.png) [@Eurydc](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Eurydc)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/1 "2016-03-14T17:50:27Z")
Have any of you experimented with converting the Flow Hive to a top entrance, rather than the bottom entrance it comes with? I’m curious about strategies for this. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Bush](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/michael_bush/32/1024_2.png) [@Michael\_Bush](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Michael_Bush)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/2 "2016-03-14T18:04:44Z")
Mine all have top entrances. Even the flow hives… ![](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/e/e8f2ad579bdfc6dea4f983f9857c3f90a33992c0.jpg) ![](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/7/747ca9953cb8fa2c8a342155f2531e8ab829159a.jpg) [http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm](http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm) Just use them from the start. If they are not using one, I would reduce the bottom entrance to about one bee wide and put the top entrance on. After a few days, if you aren’t using an excluder you can block the bottom entrance. If you ARE, then leave it reduced to about one bee wide so the drones can get out. ---
**Author:** ![Dee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dee/32/5840_2.png) [@Dee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dee)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/3 "2016-03-14T18:24:49Z")
> [@Michael\_Bush](#): > > Mine all have top entrances. Even the flow hives… How do the bees clear the dead ones off the floor? ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/4 "2016-03-14T18:26:52Z")
> [@Dee](#): > > How do the bees clear the dead ones off the floor? They climb Mount Everest like a sherpa weighed down, or they wait for the beekeeper… 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Bush](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/michael_bush/32/1024_2.png) [@Michael\_Bush](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Michael_Bush)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/5 "2016-03-14T18:53:23Z")
> [@Dawn\_SD](#): > > How do the bees clear the dead ones off the floor? > **[Top entrances on bee hives, Michael Bush](https://bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm)** > > Top entrances on bee hives, Michael Bush. Advantages of top entrances. How to make a simple and inexpensive beehive cover with a top entrance to handle ventilation issues all year around. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/6 "2016-03-14T19:03:10Z")
@Michael_Bush breeds VERY special bees!!! 😄 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/0/0153c8153f621dbdfd72f811cc6e9ef8cf097389.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Eurydc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/eurydc/32/2628_2.png) [@Eurydc](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Eurydc)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/7 "2016-03-14T20:48:40Z")
Thanks everyone. I saw you at the Shenandoah Beekeeper’s talk on Saturday, Michael - really, really enjoyed it. (This is Jennifer - the girl with the Firefly jacket. ;)) I know you’d recommended putting shims on the lid - I was just wondering if that would work for the full Flow Hive setup - I ordered their full hive set to get started. ---
**Author:** ![Eurydc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/eurydc/32/2628_2.png) [@Eurydc](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Eurydc)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/9 "2016-03-15T19:27:51Z")
So, when converting the Classic Flow Hive ([http://www.honeyflow.com/about-flow/flow-hive/p/65](http://www.honeyflow.com/about-flow/flow-hive/p/65)) to a top entrance hive, where would be best to make the modification? On the inner cover? I don’t think the hive lid would work because of access to the honey slots. Just trying to puzzle this out, given the Flow Hive’s out-of-the-box design. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/10 "2016-03-15T19:34:13Z")
You could shape your existing inner cover, or buy this one if you don’t want to modify the Flow version: > **[8-Frame Inner Cover](http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/8-Frame-Inner-Cover)** > > Details" This 8 Frame Inner Cover is made with the same rigid standards as our 10-Frame Inner Cover. The 3/8" plywood is glued and nailed into a rabbet in the pine rim. This is the strongest inner cover on the market today. A hole is cut in the inner... Dawn ---
**Author:** ![jape](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/db5fbb/32.png) [@jape](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/jape)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/11 "2016-03-15T20:47:40Z")
This post was flagged by the community and is temporarily hidden. ---
**Author:** ![Dee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dee/32/5840_2.png) [@Dee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dee)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/12 "2016-03-15T21:43:32Z")
Yes, when there is a really good flow the hives sound like air-con units ---
**Author:** ![JeffH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/jeffh/32/7192_2.png) [@JeffH](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/JeffH)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/13 "2016-03-16T02:22:38Z")
Hi Jape, I’m jealous of your terrific honey flows. I’m a fan of bottom entrances. Maybe that’s because it’s done that way in Oz. ---
**Author:** ![techieg33k](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/techieg33k/32/5545_2.png) [@techieg33k](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/techieg33k)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/14 "2016-03-28T02:12:31Z")
I plan to modify my Flow Inner (waiting for my extra Mediums to get her this week - then I’m finishing everything, making mods, and coating with Tung Oil) with a 2in wide opening like @Michael_Bush suggested (his side + another topic on the forums), but upon measuring ether side of the Inner I notice the wooden frame around the Inner is only 5/16" thick and I remember the 3/8" rules + that link you have from Brushy calls out 3/8" plywood. Thoughts anyone? ---
**Author:** ![jape](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/db5fbb/32.png) [@jape](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/jape)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/15 "2016-03-28T02:27:50Z")
This post was flagged by the community and is temporarily hidden. ---
**Author:** ![techieg33k](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/techieg33k/32/5545_2.png) [@techieg33k](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/techieg33k)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/16 "2016-03-28T03:08:50Z")
Avoiding the mice we have all around our area. My yard cats and poison can’t even keep up with them. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/17 "2016-03-28T03:13:05Z")
> [@techieg33k](#): > > I notice the wooden frame around the Inner is only 5/16" thick and I remember the 3/8" rules + that link you have from Brushy calls out 3/8" plywood Well, if you have enough other stuff that you need to buy to get the free shipping, I would get the Brushy one. But I have never used a deliberate top entrance (bees have sometimes found a way, but it wasn’t designed by humans!), so I can’t tell you from direct experience. Please keep us updated, I would love to know what you do and how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![techieg33k](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/techieg33k/32/5545_2.png) [@techieg33k](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/techieg33k)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/18 "2016-03-28T03:15:32Z")
I will dawn. I’d be curious to see what @Michael_Bush thinks since he does use them. I might have enough for free shipping (depending on what I do about the beesuit) ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/19 "2016-03-28T03:21:21Z")
> [@techieg33k](#): > > I might have enough for free shipping (depending on what I do about the beesuit) I just ordered their ventilated bee suit. I am already getting hot in my non-ventilated one, and we are only in early Spring! ---
**Author:** ![JeffH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/jeffh/32/7192_2.png) [@JeffH](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/JeffH)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/20 "2016-03-28T05:03:36Z")
Hi Logan, I have the same school of thought as Jape. We have more issues with rats than mice. Rats are fantastic climbers. If mice can climb as good as rats, I would have thought they’d get into a top entrance just as easy as a bottom entrance. Maybe the bottom entrance is closer to where they walk around. I think I’d still use a bottom entrance with a mouse guard. Have you tried a trap that catches them live? Like a wire funnel pointing downwards. You can buy them on line. ---
**Author:** ![adagna](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/adagna/32/31728_2.png) [@adagna](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/adagna)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 5:57am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/converting-flowhive-to-top-entrance/5730/21 "2016-03-28T05:57:25Z")
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