Hi my name is Mike I live in Brooklyn and its been real cold it's my 1st winter as a beekeeper and lost one hive already, (they were all frozen and dead on top of the frames) I have a 2nd colony thank Gd.
I wanted to know if I'm worried they won't be able to get out when the weather warms up (it will be 49 we'd and Fri) should I put 4 pieces of 1" x2" between the inner cover and the top cover to allow them a way to get in and out?
Thank you for your time
Mike in Brooklyn
Why couldn't they get out of the bottom part? Snow? Dead bees? just curious. I'm a new beek as well, but I'd want to say it may vent too much warmth out. Some of our northern beeks will help you out.
You probably need to go and edit your profile and add your location instead of hopeless lost. Some questions are location specific. And BTW - Welcome!
Ya I'm worried of snow ice dead bees blocking the entrance and if it,s only a crack open would it help or hurt
Mike
If the entrance is blocked, is there a reason you can't unblock it?
Bent metal coat hanger works good for hooking out dead bees and such.
Being blocked in is better than being frozen. Either open the bottom entrance slightly or leave as is. Do you have the upper windows in your house open?
Quote from: tefer2 on February 17, 2014, 09:44:35 AM
Bent metal coat hanger works good for hooking out dead bees and such.
Yep-keep one hanging in the yard. :) Can't imagine that its warm enough to prop tops yet anywhere north of Ohio ;)
I keep them on my roof so the access is iffy at times,
Thank you will do.
I have a notched Brushy Mountain inner cover that I invert in the winter for a top entrance/exit. On top of it, I have a 1 1/2" piece of Styrofoam (with center hole coinciding with center hole of inner cover) to keep in the warmth and allow condensation to escape. I have a 4" vented feeding super all year round to allow for this. (I recall many posts discussing vapor escape and convection currents). Yes, the "windows" may be open on top but I don't have it raining on the bees in the winter nor a mold situation. Seems to work for me.
Yea 2sox tell em but they cant listen to a couple newbeeks.
that would affect their impression of the world.
jay
Thank you!
I do have a spacer I can cut a notch in and thank G-d I knocked this morning and heard the all buzzing.... but every once in a while i'll knock and one bee flys out and gets stuck in the snow i try to put her back but she keeps going away from the hive and most likly dieing, Why is this and should thes make me no longer knock in the winter?
By the way its going to be 46 today!
Mike
Sorry I did not correct my spelling in the previous letter.
Mike
They'll do best with peace and quiet during the winter.