hive wraps . .

[amymcg]

MB - you mentioned somewhere about the possibility of using bubble wrap for a hive wrap, and so I decided since I hadn't wrapped my hive up yet, why not.

Last week, I wrapped it up in bubblewrap. Today I went down just to see how things were going.

I have sticks propping up the innercover for some ventilation, but it's big enough the girls can exit that way if they want to.  

what I saw was that some of hte bees had come out that way, then apparently wandered down into the bubble wrap and got stuck there and froze.  So, I sealed off the top edge of the bubble wrap with some duct tape and hopefully that will take care of that issue.

Just wanted to let you know what could happen if anyone else decides to do this.

[Finsky]

Last week, I wrapped it up in bubblewrap. Today I went down just to see how things were going.

I suppose that bubble plastic will rotten your hives because it do not let moisture out. Canadians have done research concerning wrapping hives. There was 18 materials in the test. Something glassfiber respirative coat was the best.

[Michael Bush]

>MB - you mentioned somewhere about the possibility of using bubble wrap for a hive wrap, and so I decided since I hadn't wrapped my hive up yet, why not.

It wasn't me.  I've never wrapped a hive in my life.  I'm thinking about it seriously, but I've never done it.

>what I saw was that some of hte bees had come out that way, then apparently wandered down into the bubble wrap and got stuck there and froze. So, I sealed off the top edge of the bubble wrap with some duct tape and hopefully that will take care of that issue.

Or they just were crawling out to die and fell down there.

>Just wanted to let you know what could happen if anyone else decides to do this.

It's probably a good idea to use the tape.  Sometimes bees get confused by transparent things.

I don't see that bubble wrap is any more vapor proof than roofing felt which many use.  But the condensation is still my concern, and why I still haven't wrapped.

[amymcg]

I was just concerned because it seemed to be alot more than usual going out to die.  We had a couple of warmer days in the 40's. It could be either that they got stuck or that they went to die.

[Michael Bush]

Either is possible.  I'd do what you did and try to ensure that they aren't getting stuck in there.

[Jay]

The other thing it could be Amy is housecleaning. Many of the bees could already have been dead inside and were cleaned out on the warm day so they all appeared at once. :D