Hive & Housing

Entrance Reducer

A small strip that turns a wide doorway into a defensible gate.

Before you open a hive

Sealed veil Smoker lit Allergy check 15 °C or warmer

Specification
Opening options	Typically 12 mm, 25 mm and 75 mm notches
Standard width	Fits 10-frame (413 mm) or 8-frame (356 mm) entrance
Materials	Pine, cedar, galvanised steel, plastic
Primary uses	New colonies, weak colonies, robbing, winter
Winter setting	Smallest notch, turned to reduce draft
Mouse exclusion	Not a substitute for a proper mouse guard
Installation	Friction fit; no fasteners required
Lifespan	3–10 years depending on material

Seasonal Prep Hive & Housing

A Langstroth entrance is wide — useful for a strong colony on a hot day, a liability for a weak one. The reducer is a strip with different-sized notches that sits in the entrance and lets you dial the opening down to a few centimetres.

It matters most at two moments: when a colony is small or newly established and cannot field enough guards, and when robbing pressure is high. A reduced entrance is also the cheapest mouse and draft control you own.

At a glance

Notch sizes12 / 25 / 75 mm

Main useDefence

Winter settingSmallest notch

Mouse-proofNo — pair with a guard

Safety

Never leave an entrance reduced on a strong colony during a heavy flow on a hot day. Bees can suffocate and the hive overheats. If you see bearding and fanning at the entrance in summer, open it up.

Using it well

Use the smallest opening for a new package or nuc until the colony fills two frames with bees.
In autumn, fit the reducer with the notch at the top so the hive still ventilates but mice cannot walk in.
Check it after storms — a reducer can be dislodged or propolised into place.
Combine a reducer with an entrance feeder to stop bees entering from the wrong side.

Compatibility

Hive types

Langstroth
Flow

Bees

European honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Educational reference only. Hive & Honey sells no equipment and takes no sponsorship. Specifications here describe typical products in this category; check the actual figures for the item you own or intend to buy. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and your local regulations.