Poll
Question:
How do you typically over-winter your bees?? Also, please include your location...Thanks!!
Option 1: 2 standard deeps
votes: 23
Option 2: 3 standard deeps
votes: 0
Option 3: 3 10 frame mediums
votes: 5
Option 4: 4 10 frame mediums
votes: 1
Option 5: 3 8 frame mediums
votes: 3
Option 6: 4 8 frame mediums
votes: 1
Option 7: other- please explain
votes: 9
Thanks everyone... Nice to see what other folks are doing! Be sure that you are not "hopelessly lost" if you vote, as your location is important in regards to how you winter.
One deep one medium
Two 10 frame deep.
Lots of bees = two 8 frame deeps. Not so many bees = single 8 frame deep. Even less bees = unite.
-J.
3 10 frame mediums is what I typically go into winter with. I've gone as small as 2 10 frame mediums without issue. Those were smaller hives.
story and a half. 1 deep, 1 med.
two deeps
Two Deeps :)
2 Deeps or 3 mediums. About the same volume of bees, just preferr to use mediums.
1 deep 1 medium
Two deeps. It might be over kill in Alabama but it worked last year.
With Russians and Carnies I overwinter with 3 medium 8 frames. With Italians I assume I'll be overwintering with 4 medium 8 frames but winter isn't here yet, just going on past experience based on cluster size.
2 deep 10 framers
3 meds 10 frame, I figure three is the right number for me.
It'd be nice to be able to see the poll results w/o voting. I am a first year beek and I don't know, I've never wintered bees before, but I'd like to see what everyone else thinks. I can vote and say, 2 or something, but then I skew the results just so I can see what others think.
Jeremy
In 1957 to 1984 I use 2 Deeps 10 frames 1985 to now 3 meds 10 frames Athol (tool town) Massachusetts USA
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
It really depends on what, if anything they do in the fall, what I take, and the size of the hive going in. Not a whole lot of winter here. 1 1/2 on the small to 3 deeps. Not usually a lot of "hard winter" here.
I edited the poll so anyone can see the results with out voting...just had it locked initially to get people to vote! I see your point for new beeks- so here you go ;)
Thanks everyone!
-Charlotte
depends on the hive. a couple of my late swarms will be one deep. the older and bigger hives will be two deeps.
Quote from: jeremy_c on July 22, 2009, 09:02:46 PM
It'd be nice to be able to see the poll results w/o voting. I am a first year beek and I don't know, I've never wintered bees before, but I'd like to see what everyone else thinks. I can vote and say, 2 or something, but then I skew the results just so I can see what others think.
Jeremy
The results are already skewed by location. To simply view the results of the poll is no particular indication of what would be right for YOU. It depends on hive size/strength, location, and overall health. Ask some local beeks or attend a few meetings before winter sets in, and find out what others in your region are doing to successfully over-winter hives.
one deep and one shallow. i plan to start using eight frame mediums for any hives i start from now on. if i do that i would probably run three deep.
Ya mean 3 medium?
I would ask around the area where you live and see what is typical and then adjust for your equipment.
3 ten frame mediums = 2 ten frame deeps = 4 eight frame mediums
Two 8,9 or 10 frames deep.
One deep and one shallow will get me through the winter.
I don't even own any mediums.
G3
Two Deeps