How to build moisture absorbing inner cover and what matterial to use?
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It's called a quilt box.
I use a shim - 3 inch tall box the size of my hives. I staple window screen to the bottom, then I lay some denim fabric [from old jeans] in the bottom and fill it with cedar chips. I set that right above the hive [and feeder/sugar rim if I'm using one], then an inner cover on top of the quilt box and the telescoping cover on top of everything.
I've also heard of folks using fallen leaves instead of cedar chips.
If you lean your hives towards the back the moisture will roll to the back and roll down the back of the hive where the bees can use it to tilute the honey for consumption.
Jim
Thanks for all of you
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I'm not sure about a moisture absorbing inner cover. Don't berate me too bad. But with proper ventilation you should not have a moisture problem should you? Even in winter you need a certain amount of air passing through the hive to provide oxygen to the bees and it should be adequate for moisture removal I would think.
I have not lost a hive yet through the winter. In early spring I will check the bees for storage, and when I pull the inner cover from above the quilt box, the water sheets off it. I do have a small entrance/ vent in the quilt box.
I'm sticking with what works for me.
I put the inner cover in the winter position (venting directly to the outside), cover the center hole of the inner cover with flashing and duct tape, put an empty super on top of that and fill it with a bat of fiberglass insulation, then put on the telescoping cover. This keeps the inner cover insulated and warm so that moisture cannot condense there and drip on the bees. It either goes out the vent hole, or moves to the sides and down where it can condense on the sides of the boxes and drip down to the bottom board - again, not on the bees. It also keeps more warmth in the hive rather than have it leak up into wet leaves or chips.
Quote from: stanisr on November 01, 2016, 03:37:01 PM
I'm not sure about a moisture absorbing inner cover. Don't berate me too bad. But with proper ventilation you should not have a moisture problem should you? Even in winter you need a certain amount of air passing through the hive to provide oxygen to the bees and it should be adequate for moisture removal I would think.
I had one large hive that I opened up one day in the spring that lid above the Screen Top Board was soaking wet from one end to the other and it was tilted, thank goodness, but still soaking wet.
It was that way for a couple of days. No other hive was even close to being like that. My STB have 1/8"saw cuts on 4 sides.
Jim
Quote from: stanisr on November 01, 2016, 03:37:01 PM
I'm not sure about a moisture absorbing inner cover. Don't berate me too bad. But with proper ventilation you should not have a moisture problem should you? Even in winter you need a certain amount of air passing through the hive to provide oxygen to the bees and it should be adequate for moisture removal I would think.
It really depends on your area and your bees. We're in a very humid area. In addition, our winters have extremes - sometimes the weather varies 60-70+ degrees within a couple of days. A quilt box helps mitigate those extremes, especially when the warm end is accompanied by heavy rains and a big bump in the humidity.
BTW - it's not just the bees getting insulated roofing over the winter. Many builders are putting similar venting and insulation in housing as well out here. Moisture is a big issue.
Mountain camp. Just put dry sugar on the top brood box. It feeds bees and absorbs water at the same time.
I use (2) miniature popsicle sticks under the two rear corners of the inner-cover and use a SBB. I don't have a problem with moisture.