Quilt for Wintering Bee Hives.

[Greywulff]

As its coming into the winter in Ireland and we can have it pretty bad at times. The last few seasons I used old pillows over the crown board and under the roof. But they got damp and needed to be changed out half way through the winter. This year I put them in plasitc bags and sealed them to keep out the damp.

This is the type of hive I made up its a double walled WBC type hive and the pillows are inside the second lift.



Does any one see addantages/disadvantages in this.

[Greywulff]

Thanks,

Can post pic's now. :-D :-D

[Robo]

You want to get the moisture out of the hive.  Here in the US, a small top entrance/vent is commonly used to let the moisture escape.  I know in Findland/Norway,  they insulate the top and put a vent in the bottom for condensation to drip out.

I would think wrapping the quilt in plastic would just cause the moisture to drip back into the bee cluster which would be bad.   I have used newspaper in the past to absorb the moisture, but you are right, it needs changing during the winter.   This year I will try a piece on burlap sack over the top of the frame bars and then another box full of wood shaving on top of the sack.  Hopefully this will provide good insulation and still allow the moisture to escape and be absorbed by the chips.

rob...

[Greywulff]

Yeah I though the plastic would be a non-runner just needed to hear it from someone else even though I was thinking of putting the plastic wrapped quilt on top of the crown board the condensation would build on it and find its way back in. Thanks

Like the idea of the wood chips, might try them in a Hessian Sack used for potatoe's made of material and used in the good ould days by beekeepers.

Now to source them in Ireland :-D :-D :-D

[Robo]

Hessian Sack

Yup, that is the stuff.   It is called burlap here...

[Greywulff]

I do like the idea of the  8-)wood chips 8-), and they can be dried out and re-used, pillows going to the bin just found the sacks for sale in England, 10 for £15 not too bad. Any more ideas Rob. :-D

[Michael Bush]

I just make sure there is at least a small upper entrance.  This accomplishes letting the moisture out so it doesn't condense as well as providing a way out on warm days where the snow blocks the bottom.  Now I closed off the bottom entrance all together and only have a top entrance.  A simple piece of styrofoam (polystyrene foam) on top of the lid can help as well.