Upper entrances. Increasing efficiency of nectar delivery to the hive means more honey stored. George Imirie developed a shim to add entrances between boxes. This is an upgraded version and the idea came to me from a friend. An advantage over Imirie’s design is the space between boxes is reduced to 3/8″ thereby reducing burr comb. I modified the measurements and added reducers.
Additional benefits include:
-They allow upper access and reduce travel across the brood nest possibly decreasing brood nest congestion and swarming. -They add ventilation.
-They cut down traffic across the brood to the honey supers allowing better access thus some think an increase in honey stores.
-If doing comb honey they cut down staining
– And if using an excluder it may help encourage storing in the supers.
Cost is less than a buck each.
Read more about my upper entrances here: Goals in Beekeeping and Upper Entrance
Beekeeping365 
That is such a good idea. one day when i get a bit more time, I will try and make one.
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That’s a good idea. I have used Imirie shims. You are correct. They are too tall and the bees just build up burr comb.
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Thanks. They will still build some but it’s quite a bit more manageable at 3/8″.
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Delta valley apiary, as I was adding the upper entrance shims to several hives earlier this week I recalled a conversation with another beekeeper that uses Imirie shims. He described his solution to the 3/4″ gap created by Imirie shims. Odd as it sounds, he uses medium depth frames in shallow hive bodies. They hang down into the Imirie shim negating the shim’s violation of bee space. It’s not something I’d do as clumsy as I am but he said it works.
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That makes sense, but the thinner shims seem like a better alternative. I’m with you on being clumsy. Thanks!
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