What is an Imirie Shim?
An Imirie shim is simply a rectangular frame of wood, about 3/4 of an inch high, with an entrance hole cut into one end. The original designer, George Imirie, insisted that their only use was to provide upper entrances between honey supers, but thousands of beekeepers since then have found alternative uses for them.
What is a shim beekeeping?
Shims are a versatile hive component used to create 1 1/2″ space between the brood chamber and honey supers. This space can be used for feeding (fondant, dry sugar, pollen patties, and winter patties), or to allow introduction of medications.
How do bees enter top entrance?
If they are damp or wet and cold, they will chill and die. These are some of the really great benefits your bees can enjoy using a top entrance. I still find that I like to keep a small notch approx 3/4” in width on my bottom board – see photo. This allows the bees to keep the floor of the hive clean and tidy.
Which way does the inner cover go?
The inner cover has a rim of wood, a wood strip on one side only. Customers often wonder which way this goes on the hive, with the rim down or up? Typically, the rim of wood faces the sky. In other words, the top cover goes down and lands on the rim of the inner cover.
How many entrances do beehives have?
Observing the Beehive Entrance. There should only be one beehive entrance and it should have a landing pad or board for the bees for taking off and landing.
How do you feed bees honey?
The most common way to help bees make honey quickly is by using a rapid feeder (these are the ones I use here in Britain). Traditionally, beekeepers use rapid feeders to feed bees a syrup that they make themselves with white sugar. If the weather is still warm enough, the bees will process it into honey.
How do I stop the Beehive entrance?
Step 1: Block the entrance to your hive. You can use a block of wood or a piece of screen, just make sure whatever you use is secure with no bee leaks. You should also make sure you block any top entrances for example, the notch in your inner cover.
How do you stop a beehive from blowing over?
Entire beehives can be blown over by strong winds, particularly when they are fairly tall with many honey supers or are otherwise top heavy. If the hives are on tall or insecure stands, you can move them onto (dry) level ground temporarily to lessen the chances that they topple.
What is the purpose of a beehive inner cover?
An inner cover’s purpose is that it provides honey bees with more insulation, allows moisture to escape the beehive, and helps circulate fresh air throughout the hive. It also prevents bees from propolizing the hive’s outer cover, while functioning as an upper entrance and exit.
How do you cover a beehive?
At its simplest, a lid can just be a piece of plywood or other material that provides coverage to the top of a hive. Beyond meeting the basic needs of the colony, beekeepers have added modifications to lid and cover designs in order to improve function and fit their own needs.
What is the purpose of an Imirie Shim?
An Imirie shim is simply a rectangular frame of wood, about 3/4 of an inch high, with an entrance hole cut into one end. The original designer, George Imirie, insisted that their only use was to provide upper entrances between honey supers, but thousands of beekeepers since then have found alternative uses for them.
How tall is an Imirie Shim on a hive?
In addition to a screened inner cover, you can also add an Imirie shim to the top portion of your hive. An Imirie shim is simply a rectangular frame of wood, about 3/4 of an inch high, with an entrance hole cut into one end.
When to use screened inner cover and Imirie Shim?
Two pieces of optional equipment to consider are a screened inner cover and an Imirie shim. Both can be used to improve summertime ventilation and increase honey production. What is a Screened Inner Cover? A screened inner cover is used to replace a regular inner cover during the warm months.