overwinter with ground heat?

[rookie2531]

I was just browsing around the net when I saw a picture of a setup where a double nuc was set on top of an empty 10 frame deep(used as stand). Just set on the ground. And I don't know if that is the purpose but it got me thinking geothermal. If that box was buried half way, could it be possible that the bees would be warmer? I know there would be moister that way, but if the box never got too cold, mold would be the issue, not frozen or starved bees a few inches from stores.

[rwlaw]

Depends on what your frost line is in your area, up here we can have up to 2' (code is three). You could do something like a shaft, line it w/ foamboard so the warmth flows upward, then an enclosure so the warm air comes out from behind the hive, that way you could warm three sides anyway. Or save yourself the trouble, mount the foamboard on the hive and call it a day.

[rookie2531]

I am thinking along the lines of a post hole with a PVC pipe in it with the hive body over it.

[divemaster1963]

I have used Geo thermal heating in my raised garden beds to grow green house plants. It is possible by running lines two feet below freeze line using thin wall black lines about 50 feet to a distribution box and running lines to emptydeeps under brood chambers and weave in the box.fill the lines with rv antifreeze and use a low pressure and low voltage pump to circulate the fluid . this will give you a constant temp will above freezing to help assist heating in colder climates . be sure to shut it down when temps are up. Because they will break the ball sooner and consume more stores quicker. By downing this you can raise the brood box tamps by 30 to 45 degrees. The cost can be high if your hives are not close together. Use it in combination with wind breaks and insulation.


John

[Michael Bush]

People have been cellaring bees for centuries... it's tricky and a lot of work, but if done right can be effective.

[Better.to.Bee.than.not]

Bees survive the winter in some pretty cold areas....  I do not think the cold is the worst thing for bees, I think moisture is, and people going into the hives late into the year, which basically breaks all the seals the bees have worked months on to seal up their hives all year with propolis. That being said, I think putting hives on like a compost pile, which generates it's own heat is not necessarily a bad thing. but bees condition themselves and relate to their local temps. start changing it and bees might not know when to go outside to take a pee, or even worse, might not know when not to.