Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Brian MCquilkin on October 16, 2020, 01:01:01 PM

Title: Bee shed
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on October 16, 2020, 01:01:01 PM
I have a small shed that is near my heated work shop. I'm thinking If  I ran a 2 inch insulated pipe from the work shop to the shed.  I will not insulate the shed  at all but thought a little heat might take the chill off. I have about 12  nucs that I would put in the shed. Most of the nucs are 5 over5. Each nuc woul have a 1/2 inch pvc pipe that would go thou the wall of the shed to the out side. under each pipe would be a landing board. Not trying to heat to much but think it would make a great windbreak  If successful I could over winter about 60 nucs in this shed.
Title: Re: Bee shed
Post by: beesnweeds on October 16, 2020, 09:16:17 PM
  I have very good success with 5 over 5. and I don't insulate them.  But Wisconsin may have consistently lower temps than UPS NY.  You could try running 6 in the shed and 6 out.  Sometimes I think we're better off trying things ourselves, no 2 beekeepers think alike.  I don't know how big your shed is, but if you have 60 nucs in it you may have the opposite problem and have to cool it down. 
Title: Re: Bee shed
Post by: JojoBeeBoy on October 16, 2020, 10:46:39 PM
I've watched Ian Steppler in Canada (on youtube) putting hundreds of hives in a building where he keeps it at a certain temp and gets consistent results. If my wife would go for it I would build a room on the house and do exactly what you are talking about.  :grin:

I'd like to know how it turns out.
Title: Re: Bee shed
Post by: Ben Framed on October 17, 2020, 12:32:25 AM
Quote from: JojoBeeBoy on October 16, 2020, 10:46:39 PM
I've watched Ian Steppler in Canada (on youtube) putting hundreds of hives in a building where he keeps it at a certain temp and gets consistent results. If my wife would go for it I would build a room on the house and do exactly what you are talking about.  :grin:

I'd like to know how it turns out.


I have watched those videos also. Ian does do some amazing things there in canada. TheHoneyPump does something similar if I remember correctly. Last season he posted some pictures here.
Title: Re: Bee shed
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on October 17, 2020, 08:23:42 PM
Thanks everyone for the reply's.  Beesnweeds Ill take your suggestion and run 6 out side and 6 in side .  I moved 3 from about 40 feet to in side the shed, thought they might return to the original site but the did not. The orientated back to the shed. I think the pipe entrance was enough for them to realize they had moved.
Just having 3 nucs has caused a temp increase in the shed, so having 60 in the shed would not be an option. Will be moving 3 from an out yard tomorrow to the shed that will make the 6.
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Title: Re: Bee shed
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on October 17, 2020, 08:25:44 PM
For got the pick of the out side.
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Title: Re: Bee shed
Post by: JojoBeeBoy on October 17, 2020, 11:50:15 PM
Nice. I never even considered the amount of heat added by the bees until reading this thread.
Title: Re: Bee shed
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on October 18, 2020, 12:43:24 PM
JojoBeeBoy I never thought about the heat from the bees. But when you consider the normal temperature of the brood nest of 92-98 , with more bees and boxes at some point air circulation and temp control would be essential. Last night I drilled veneration holes in all the upper boxes on the nucs  to help with air flow.
Title: Re: Bee shed
Post by: TheHoneyPump on October 18, 2020, 08:48:34 PM
Quote from: Brian MCquilkin on October 17, 2020, 08:25:44 PM
For got the pick of the out side.
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Nicely Done.  Perfect.