And yet, another question????

mlewis48 · November 27, 2007, 10:01:37 AM

Top of the morning to you all,
And here I am again with another question. I have read several postings around the web about adding ventilation to your hives for condensation to leave the hive. Some say to add a #2 pencil under you lid. While others say to drill holes in the top box. I was a little uneasy about that because of the cost of a box, to be filling it with holes. I read an article last night that was talking about adding newspaper to the top to help with the condensation??? Of course, it was not on this forum, so I kind of am confused about the whole deal. I dont want to see any of my girls turn into a popcycle from it raining inside of their home. Any help or opinion on this would be great. Because, here in South Central Ohio, Old Mother Winter has to be coming soon. Thanks again for all of the good advice from my last postings.
Marcus 8-)

KONASDAD · November 27, 2007, 10:59:13 AM

You prop the telewcoping top w/ a small stick, about finger thick. Place the stick near the corner and on top of your inner cover. Put telescoping top on and it is now "crooked." When the condensation hits the inside, it will travel to the low corner and drip outside the cluster of bees. The condensation comes from their respiration and food consumption, so theres no avoiding it. Robo has a great blog w/ cold weather advice for feeding and additional insulation tips. Simple and strait forward tips.

Kathyp · November 27, 2007, 11:27:15 AM

probably a preference and circumstance thing. i prop the top in the summer, but have 1 small hole in each upper box. in the winter, my rain comes sideways and i don't want the top open. the holes are on the side that is least apt to get the wind. i can close the holes with a wad of grass or duct tape.

Brian D. Bray · November 27, 2007, 01:41:50 PM

Putting newspaper in the top of the hive to absorb the moisture is going to create one big ice cube later. Sounds like a good way to kill off your hive IMO. I learned long ago (at least 40 years) not to drill holes in the supers. Every hole in a hive, encluding the entrance introduces problems--why make more of them? That's one of the reasons I went to top entrances--it gives the bees access and vents all excess moisture so no additional holes even need be considered.

Kimbrell · November 27, 2007, 03:01:06 PM

My hives are propped from the bottom with a board to tilt them to the back. On the inside of the telescoping cover I have glued small squares of wood (1/4" high) to each corner. I find this gives enough ventilation for the winter months in my area. In the summer I prop the lid a little more with a wood shim under the front of the telescoping cover.

randydrivesabus · November 27, 2007, 03:06:13 PM

i give my bees a #2 pencil so they can draw comb.

:oops:sorry

rantcliff · November 27, 2007, 07:01:15 PM

HA!

Do they learn to draw in school or is that just fish?

:roll:

TwT · November 27, 2007, 08:19:24 PM

Quote from: Kimbrell on November 27, 2007, 03:01:06 PM
My hives are propped from the bottom with a board to tilt them to the back. On the inside of the telescoping cover I have glued small squares of wood (1/4" high) to each corner. I find this gives enough ventilation for the winter months in my area. In the summer I prop the lid a little more with a wood shim under the front of the telescoping cover.

maybe I understand you wrong, hives should be tilted forward so moisture goes out the entrance!

I put a big enough peace on wood under my top cover (not migratory) so the notch in my intercover is visible just like the intercovers brushy mountain sales, see the small notch cut out in the front, mine is about 2 inches wide x 3/8 inch deep.... the picture below shows the intercover upside down, notch should be on hive body side not top

Cindi · November 27, 2007, 09:13:40 PM

Quote from: Kimbrell on November 27, 2007, 03:01:06 PM
My hives are propped from the bottom with a board to tilt them to the back. On the inside of the telescoping cover I have glued small squares of wood (1/4" high) to each corner. I find this gives enough ventilation for the winter months in my area. In the summer I prop the lid a little more with a wood shim under the front of the telescoping cover.

Kimbrell, please clarify what you are saying. I get the idea that you are tilting the hives with the front higher than the back. Why? Are you using screened bottom boards or solid bottomboards?

If you are using solid bottomboards, I personally would not recommend to have them higher at the front than the back. If you are tilting them this way, any water that may come in will run to the back of the hive and pool there. Maybe I missed something in what you were speaking about, that is why I would like you to clarify the statement. Have a great and wonderful day, Cindi

mlewis48 · November 28, 2007, 01:35:48 AM

Kona,
Where can I find the blog that Robo has posted about wintering hives? And thanks to all of the info that everyone responed to my posting.

KONASDAD · November 28, 2007, 11:50:08 AM

Quote from: mlewis48 on November 28, 2007, 01:35:48 AM
Kona,
Where can I find the blog that Robo has posted about wintering hives? And thanks to all of the info that everyone responed to my posting.

I think you can access it from the blogs section of the forum or do a search on this sites search engine or PM robo. Always helpful to me, and I am sure many others too. He will definately respond.

Robo · November 28, 2007, 02:39:51 PM

I prefer to use a small upper entrance for winter ventilation.

Before going to polystyrene hives or supplemental heat I use to wrap my hives with tar paper. You can still see it here on my old website -> http://robo.hydroville.com/v12/content/view/20/2/

This year I am using a piece of rigid insulation with an entrance as an inner cover.

Here is the info on emergency feeding that Konasdad also referenced -> http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/emergency-feeding/

mlewis48 · November 29, 2007, 02:05:56 AM

Robo,
Thank you for the info, it helped alot. Alot of good info on the site. Where can I find a plan for the double screen boards?

Kimbrell · November 30, 2007, 12:33:11 AM

Hi Cindi,
I tilt the entire hive back slightly. It helps keep water from standing on the entrance. I do use SBB. I have tried tilting the hives forward in the past. I have found that if the hives are tilted forward water accumulates around and in the entrance feeder I use in the spring. It might not be the accepted method, but it works for me.
The little squares of wood I glue to the corners of the underside of the telescoping top cover simply add a little more air flow because the top cover does not touch the inner cover all the way around.