Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: chickenwing654 on January 04, 2015, 08:23:54 PM

Title: water
Post by: chickenwing654 on January 04, 2015, 08:23:54 PM
Hi,

Newbie here.  Do you need to provide water during winter months?  If so, How do you do this during freezing temps?

Thanks
David
Title: Re: water
Post by: djastram on January 04, 2015, 08:33:07 PM
The bees should have plenty of water inside the hive, due to condensation.

It's usually a problem.

DJ
Title: Re: water
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 04, 2015, 09:56:46 PM
What DJ said.
During the winter, bees depend upon the condensation on the walls for water.  They use water to dilute honey. If that water was coming from the ceiling that could kill the hive.
Jim
Title: Re: water
Post by: AllenF on January 04, 2015, 10:05:21 PM
I do not worry about giving them water.   Summer or winter. 
Title: Re: water
Post by: chickenwing654 on January 05, 2015, 06:56:29 AM
Hi,

Thanks for the replies. 

How would you combat the winter condensation inside hive?  How about other seasons?  Would you take the the cover off for a short time?

newbie

Thanks again
David
Title: Re: water
Post by: Michael Bush on January 05, 2015, 11:06:25 AM
> Do you need to provide water during winter months?

No.

>Would you take the the cover off for a short time?

The bees are constantly producing moisture.  You need a method that constantly lets it out.  Opening the hive will relieve moisture issues only until you put the cover back on, and will create problems with cold.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeswinter.htm
Title: Re: water
Post by: sterling on January 05, 2015, 03:42:22 PM
Quote from: chickenwing654 on January 05, 2015, 06:56:29 AM
Hi,

Thanks for the replies. 

How would you combat the winter condensation inside hive?  How about other seasons?  Would you take the the cover off for a short time?

newbie

Thanks again
David

It helps some to tilt the back of the hive up a half inch or so to let the condensation go to the front of the hive. And putting dry sugar on news paper on top of the frames help also for condensation and feed.
Title: Re: water
Post by: chickenwing654 on January 06, 2015, 10:51:08 AM
Hi,

Thanks for all the replies.  Sounds like I allot more research and will be asking more questions in the future.  What I understand is cold is not a factor as much as condensation.  This would be my biggest hurdle next year with my new colony.

thanks again.

David
Title: Re: water
Post by: lomatia on January 06, 2015, 05:33:57 PM
In Oz I float tennis balls in a bucket of water .... great landing platforms. We do get heavy frosts and occasionally snow but I guess there would be a lot of condensation inside in winter as stated by others.
Title: Re: water
Post by: Michael Bush on January 09, 2015, 03:35:51 PM
>In Oz I float tennis balls in a bucket of water .... great landing platforms.

I would think they would roll and the bees would land in the water... Scrap boards work fine...
Title: Re: water
Post by: Ret Sgt Robert Yates on January 11, 2015, 01:07:36 AM
I used Google Earth to look around my place and in zoom out mode to see just what Fresh water sources are available in the area and found that there are about 6 with in less then 1/3 to 1/2 mile of the house and there are fresh water springs & streams as well . it may help you out to see what you have in your area .

Best Regards
Title: Re: water
Post by: BlueBee on January 11, 2015, 02:55:05 AM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on January 04, 2015, 09:56:46 PM
During the winter, bees depend upon the condensation on the walls for water.  They use water to dilute honey.

That sounds logical, but I have NEVER seen the bees licking up any condensation.....and I've looked   :cool:

I installed clear poly tops on a bunch of hives a couple years ago and monitored the winter condensation with various top/bottom entrance configurations.  Lots of condensation on the clear poly tops when using bottom entrances.  Never once did I see a bee "drinking" any of that condensation.  Granted, I didn't watch them 24-7, but I didn't see any changes in the condensation from day to day either.

I have also fed my bees water in the middle of winter, but that is a story for another day  :cool:   Even Danno liked that report  :oops:
Title: Re: water
Post by: Wombat2 on January 12, 2015, 07:19:58 PM
In the summer months it was been shown in Oz that a hive will consume up to 5 litres a day to cool the hive. When you realize how much a bee can carry that is a lot of trips that are not carrying nectar, so the closer the water the better. Same research also showed that they prefer slightly "tainted" water - second hand water from the fowl yard, pond water with algae growing in it, muddy puddles they seem to avoid fresh water from a tap unless no other alternative.
Title: Re: water
Post by: CBT on January 12, 2015, 08:06:19 PM
I agree, the closer the water when they need it the less time hauling. It's funny they like dirty water and pool water.
Title: Re: water
Post by: amun-ra on January 13, 2015, 02:33:07 AM
cbt try drinking some of the local water and youd see why they like it matured somewhat
most tap water has been treated with salt chlorine to sanitize it for consumption so a day or to in the sun will kill of most of the added chems and make it good bee juice.

Title: Re: water
Post by: Richard M on January 13, 2015, 05:31:13 AM
Quote from: Wombat2 on January 12, 2015, 07:19:58 PM
In the summer months it was been shown in Oz that a hive will consume up to 5 litres a day to cool the hive. When you realize how much a bee can carry that is a lot of trips that are not carrying nectar, so the closer the water the better. Same research also showed that they prefer slightly "tainted" water - second hand water from the fowl yard, pond water with algae growing in it, muddy puddles they seem to avoid fresh water from a tap unless no other alternative.

So they're just like dogs really.