I have had bees for awhile now but never had this problem before. Just wondering the best solution. So we have still been cold mainly at nights in northern Wisconsin so I still have the mouse guard on and the top entrance on. The problem is on nice days they only use the top entrance very few will go in the bottom and I take the guard and reducer out. I had bees flying back with lots of pollen and they keep trying to get in the top even when I have it closed off. Should I close it in the morning when they are not flying yet to force them to go out the bottom? Adam

Leave the top entrance open. You do not ever have to have a bottom entrance. Bees do just fine with a top only entrance and this will generally prohibit most mice.

Leave the top open. I assume you haven't done a reversal yet...so they are in the top box only (and why they are using that entrance more right now. As soon as you do a reversal, you'll see them using the bottom much more. A bottom entrance is also needed for airflow within the hive, IMO.

I have done reversals on most of my hives at this point...Unless very weak.

Thanks for the info. Yes I have not done reversal yet and maybe I should this week as the weather looks good into the future. They do seem to be in the top box only. Adam