Winter observation hive

[bee-nuts]

Anyone ever keep an observation hive in an out building over winter to see how they cluster and what not over the winter months?  Im thinking of a ten frame box made of plexi glass or even glass.  Would be interesting to watch over the winter months.

[AllenF]

Are you talking about the sides out of glass, or just a top?  I think you could do with a glass top and then place a regular top over it to hold heat.  Might work if it don't hold too much moisture in the hive.

[bee-nuts]

Good Idea. 

Im talking about the whole box and then keep in garage or somewhere out of wind and the worst of the cold.  would need to use a moisture board on top.

[specialkayme]

I've kept a normal indoor observation hive through the winter. It's one deep thick, three deeps tall. Sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't. It's hit or miss.

As far as using a 10 frame clear hive, you need to be able to cover it up when you arn't looking. The light that comes in is annoying to them, and they won't like it. Beyond that, I'm not sure how much you'll actually be able to "watch." When I crack open the top of a hive and look down, I can tell generally where the cluster is, but that's about it. You can't tell what's going on other than that.

If all you want to do is watch where the cluster moves/ how big it is, it might work (although I've never done it).

[Michael Bush]

I keep them in my living room during the whole year, including the winter...

[bee-nuts]

do they try to fly in the winter?

[Kathyp]

mine are in my LR also.  yes they will fly any day that it warms up enough.   that's usually 45ish around here.  sometimes less if it's a sunny day and the hive warms up.

[D Coates]

I've got a 5 frame deep I'll be overwintering for the first time this year.  So far by watching them and their actions I can tell what my regular hives are doing without disturbing them.

[Michael Bush]

>do they try to fly in the winter?

No more than any hive.  On warm days they fly.  A few will fly on cold sunny days on occasion, as with any hive.