When to place a tick board in a beehive? - briefly
Insert a tick board just before the colony reaches peak brood production, usually in late spring or early summer, to maximize mite control. Remove it before adding honey supers to prevent honey contamination.
When to place a tick board in a beehive? - in detail
A tick board, also called a queen excluder or entrance board, should be installed at a point when the colony’s population and brood pattern can accommodate the barrier without causing congestion or disrupting foraging. The appropriate moment depends on several observable conditions:
- The colony has established a stable brood cycle, typically after the first major egg‑laying period in spring. Workers are already foraging, and the queen is consistently laying eggs.
- The entrance area is large enough to allow a clear passage for the board. A board that is too small relative to traffic will increase entrance congestion and can lead to queen loss.
- The hive’s internal space is sufficient to house the adult population plus the brood frame(s) that will be protected by the board. Overcrowding behind the barrier may cause swarming or queen supersedure.
Practical steps for timing the installation:
- Monitor spring buildup – Wait until the colony has filled at least two frames of brood and the honey stores begin to increase. This indicates that the queen’s laying rate is steady.
- Check entrance size – Ensure the entrance opening can accommodate a board that is at least 1‑inch (2.5 cm) wide, providing room for several worker bees to pass simultaneously.
- Assess crowding – Open the hive and examine the space between frames. If there is at least one full frame of free space on each side of the board’s intended location, the hive can tolerate the added restriction.
- Install before major honey flow – Placing the board just before the main nectar influx (often late spring to early summer) prevents excessive bees from clustering at the entrance, which could otherwise block the board.
If any of these criteria are not met, postpone installation until the colony reaches the required strength. After the board is in place, continue to observe entrance traffic; adjust the board’s position or size if congestion appears. Regular checks during the peak foraging season ensure the barrier remains effective without compromising the hive’s overall health.