Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Finski on January 28, 2011, 11:26:24 AM

Title: How to save bees from cold , PART 2
Post by: Finski on January 28, 2011, 11:26:24 AM
STYROFOAM HIVES

inner cover and outer covers is the same. Plastic sheet is under cover that burr does not clue the cover to frames
Coldest month in the pic February.
This beek has probably  mesh floors

(http://bee.freesuperhost.com/yabbfiles/Attachments/Rouhiaisen_tarha_helmikuussa.JPG)

(http://bee.freesuperhost.com/yabbfiles/Attachments/1._27.2.2006.jpg)
Title: Re: How to save bees from cold , PART 2
Post by: FRAMEshift on January 28, 2011, 12:04:57 PM
Thanks Finski.  It's great to see pictures of your operation.

I see that your hives are offset from each other a bit. They are not all in a straight line.  Is that to prevent drift of bees from one hive to another?
Title: Re: How to save bees from cold , PART 2
Post by: Finski on January 28, 2011, 12:18:15 PM
Quote from: FRAMEshift on January 28, 2011, 12:04:57 PM
Thanks Finski.  It's great to see pictures of your operation.

I see that your hives are offset from each other a bit. They are not all in a straight line.  Is that to prevent drift of bees from one hive to another?

Those hives are not mine but I do not keep  them in line.  3 in line,  but 4 is too much.

In autumn bees kill each other when they drift. With honey and pollen load they are welcome in.
Title: Re: How to save bees from cold , PART 2
Post by: BlueBee on January 28, 2011, 12:32:18 PM
Finski do you put a black covering over the sides of your hives like we see in the photos?
Title: Re: How to save bees from cold , PART 2
Post by: Finski on January 28, 2011, 12:43:45 PM
Quote from: BlueBee on January 28, 2011, 12:32:18 PM
Finski do you put a black covering over the sides of your hives like we see in the photos?

I use white geotextile. Black color sucks too much sun heat and invite  bees out to die .

I use it in front of hives that geotextile  hinders wind, snowfall and birds. The textlle leave a cave under snow if snow is over the entrance height. Now it is 70 cm and more is coming.

Geotextile stands at least 20 years to use.

Use example: it prevenst the soil layers mixing. Very strong material
(http://www.verkkomikko.fi/images/rakkan1_0805_a04.jpg)