What is a follower board?
Easy to make and just as easy to use if you don't need a full ten frame box. It will save you from building a Nuc when doing a split. Simply moving, or RE moving the follower board will open the box up as your bees build and grow.
The board blocks off part of the hive body so the bees are not overwhelmed with space when starting a smaller split, yet is easy to move as they grow.
The board must come CLOSE to the bottom of the box, close enough bees cant wriggle under it. The same goes for the ends. Enough space you can break the propolis free but not enough space for the bees to get past it. I cut a board that fits the height of the frame rests, then cut a longer board that will SIT on the frame rests, and nail/glue it to the top of the other board. No fancy cutting involved!
The board must come CLOSE to the bottom of the box, close enough bees cant wriggle under it. The same goes for the ends. Enough space you can break the propolis free but not enough space for the bees to get past it. I cut a board that fits the height of the frame rests, then cut a longer board that will SIT on the frame rests, and nail/glue it to the top of the other board. No fancy cutting involved!
If your inner cover is FLAT on the bottom side, your DONE! If your inner cover has a deep space on one side, and a shallow space on the other side like many of the commercial inner covers, you will need to cut a shim for the top of the follower board to match this space or the bees WILL climb over it. Again, its as simple as measuring the space and cutting the shim to size to fit inside the inner cover.
You can place the board wherever you like to create a 3 frame box, 5 frame, or 8 frame. Starting a new split, your going to use an entrance reducer anyhow. Slide the entrance reducer back against the follower board, and you have effectively sealed off the part of the brood chamber you do not want used.
I have used a piece of 3/4 board, if you use a piece of 1/4 panel to make the board there will be room for all ten frames, but the 3/4 doesn't require fancy cuts and is easy to nail and glue together.
I have used a piece of 3/4 board, if you use a piece of 1/4 panel to make the board there will be room for all ten frames, but the 3/4 doesn't require fancy cuts and is easy to nail and glue together.
It is also possible, by putting the entrance reducer in the center, to have TWO hives in the same box with entrances to each on the opposite sides of the bottom board. With the 3/4 board it would be one 5 frame hive and one 4 frame hive.
I hope this helps understand the purpose of a follower board in a Langstroth style hive!
Scott
I hope this helps understand the purpose of a follower board in a Langstroth style hive!
Scott