ice storms?

[Kathyp]

i see you guys have brought up the storm question here.  how about ice storms?  we get really bad ones about every 3 years.  we are due this year.  i know the ice wouldn't hurt the outside of the hive, but if it were to seal the hive for a period of time, say overnight, would the bees be ok.  how long does it take for a hive to suffocate?

any ideas about how you would keep some kind of air hole open?  we can get 2 or 3 inches of ice in a very short amount of time.  then snow usually falls on top of that...then more ice.....

[Apis629]

It's not safe to COMPLETELY seal a hive for any length greater than a minute or two.  They NEED air!  Given I don't get ice storms here...and I'm not entirely sure what one is, I'll leave that part to the northerners.

[Brian D. Bray]

An ice storm can plug the entrance which can cut off the air supply if you are not using either a SBB or a ventilated top.  The Ice storm will not plug up a SBB because the open area is below and protected from direct moisture by the hive.  And no the open floor that a SBB represents will not cause the bees to freeze the heat will stay in the hive with the excess venting out the bottom, therby keeping the bottom open.

[Kathyp]

thanks.  forgot about the open bottom.  why did the SBB come with that slide in board if i'm never going to use it? :)

i am off to the bee store.  also going to by slatted rack if they have one.  we are headed for 100+ degrees this week.  i hope this will help with ventilation on the top and discourage robbing?  i have had some trouble with robbing but nothing big.  don't want to make it worse.

[Michael Bush]

> i know the ice wouldn't hurt the outside of the hive, but if it were to seal the hive for a period of time, say overnight, would the bees be ok. how long does it take for a hive to suffocate?

I've seen bottom entrances blocked by snow and ice.  I've never had top entrances blocked.  You need a top entnrace, even if it's a small one.  I prefer it as the only entrance so I don't have to worry about the mice etc.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#topentrance
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm