High winds blew covers off hives

Davepeg · December 29, 2009, 03:13:21 PM

Hi All,
The high winds in my part of NY today blew the tops off 4 of my 6 hives--2 also lost their inner covers (first time for this in 5 years of beekeeping--always something new to teach us). Put the tops back on and placed bricks on them.
It's also very cold here--concerned that the bursts of cold air may have froze the girls. Q: Anyone else have an experience with this and what was the survival rate?
Thanks

Cossack · December 29, 2009, 06:56:52 PM

That happened to me last years on News Years Eve. 5 of my hives were knocked over by high winds. I was able to correct the problem but by spring those 5 hives had perished. I hope yours fair better than mine did. Good Luck.

homer · December 29, 2009, 07:32:58 PM

I've had the top blow off of one of mine, but it was mid spring and not that cool and the bees were building up. It may have set them back a bit but it was all okay in the end. A lot of your hives' survival likely depends on how long the lids were off. I imagine you will be able to get a good idea of the effect on the colony in a few weeks. If it hurt them a lot the cluster will be considerably smaller. Keep those bricks on!!!

David LaFerney · December 29, 2009, 07:36:30 PM

One of mine has a rain cover that I made out of trim aluminum - kept blowing off even with a big rock on top, so I put ratchet straps on all of them until the windy season is over.

bassman1977 · December 29, 2009, 08:56:09 PM

QuoteAnyone else have an experience with this and what was the survival rate?

This happened last year. I am not sure how long it was off until it was noticed (this was at an out yard, not my home yard). The hive never made it to spring. A few years ago, two of my hives shifted on the cinder blocks they were on, due to very soggy ground. The hives broke apart and the covers on my beloved carnolian hive were completely off. Both of these hives were in icy cold temps, high winds, and were rained on/in. I doubt the covers and hives were apart for more than 6 hours until I was able to get them back together. I still have those hives and they continue to be great producers.

BeeHopper · December 29, 2009, 09:44:40 PM

Quote from: Davepeg on December 29, 2009, 03:13:21 PM
Hi All,
The high winds in my part of NY today blew the tops off 4 of my 6 hives--2 also lost their inner covers (first time for this in 5 years of beekeeping--always something new to teach us). Put the tops back on and placed bricks on them.
It's also very cold here--concerned that the bursts of cold air may have froze the girls. Q: Anyone else have an experience with this and what was the survival rate?
Thanks

I am assuming that you had no bricks, blocks, rocks, or anything on top in 5 years :?

buzzbee · December 29, 2009, 10:44:44 PM

Last year i had two hives completely blown over next to each other. the boxes got mixed when they toppled. Everything was exposed to the elements for several hours overnight through similar weather. I mixed and matched together the best I could and both survived.

Robo · December 30, 2009, 12:43:21 AM

Not trying to be sarcastic, but isn't the generally accepted rule "cold doesn't kill bees moisture does" ?

My experience has been that the length of the exposure, strength of the colony, and location of the cluster greatly affect the rate of survival. Did you look in them when you where placing the covers back on?

Davepeg · December 31, 2009, 10:13:48 AM

Quote from: Robo on December 30, 2009, 12:43:21 AM
Not trying to be sarcastic, but isn't the generally accepted rule "cold doesn't kill bees moisture does" ?

My experience has been that the length of the exposure, strength of the colony, and location of the cluster greatly affect the rate of survival. Did you look in them when you where placing the covers back on?

I looked into the the colonies and saw most of them still in cluster towards the top of the hive. Given that the winds were gusting to 45 mph and the temps were well below freezing I chose to not perform an extensive check.

My experience has been that those who need to point out that they aren't being sarcastic usually are being sarcastic. Since we haven't met face-to-face, I'll assume the best from you.

Robo · December 31, 2009, 11:19:53 AM

Quote from: Davepeg on December 31, 2009, 10:13:48 AM
I looked into the the colonies and saw most of them still in cluster towards the top of the hive. Given that the winds were gusting to 45 mph and the temps were well below freezing I chose to not perform an extensive check.

You did the best thing by not pulling them open. But for future reference and piece of mind, looking down inside with a flashlight and even breathing down in the hive to see if there is movement can tell you a lot, and the extra couple of minutes of the cover being off will not make a difference.

Quote
My experience has been that those who need to point out that they aren't being sarcastic usually are being sarcastic. Since we haven't met face-to-face, I'll assume the best from you.

My comment was not intended for you directly, it is just I get beat up all the time about my belief in the importance of heat retention and not using upper ventilation in the winter.

We had some horrific wind here as well, upwards of 75 mph. I had one complete nuc get blown off the stand and slid about 25ft and dumped all the frames out. Also had another hive with 4 rocks on top that had the cover blown off. Rocks in perfect order in the snow next to the hive. Looks like this yard will get ratchet straps next year.

David LaFerney · December 31, 2009, 11:36:53 AM

Quote from: Robo on December 31, 2009, 11:19:53 AM
Looks like this yard will get ratchet straps next year.

Yeah, I already wake up when the wind blows a picture getting up and finding a tree across something. I don't need to have to worry about wind blown bee hives too.

You know it probably needs to be pointed out that 8 frame and Warre hives are going to be taller and skinnier, and probably more likely to blow over to people who are thinking about them.

Davepeg · January 03, 2010, 09:33:44 AM

Winds have picked up again and it's bitter cold outside - wind chill of -3 here in Rockland County NY. Went out to the hives the other day and put my ear to the openings. Did hear some activity in 3 out of six hives. Winters are long when you're waiting to see if your hives have made it. Put bricks on all the hives but I think we'll go get some straps and make sure we don't lose the covers again.

Two Bees · January 07, 2010, 09:07:53 AM

It's been windy in NC for several days now with overnight temps in the teens. The forecast is more of the same through the middle of next week. I use paving stones to cap off my hives and with recent winds gusting to 50 mph, I haven't had any problems. Decided to close up the screened bottoms though!

Damonh · January 07, 2010, 09:34:56 AM

Just remembered why I put cement solid blocks on top of my hives. The 50 MPH wind scattered my tops into my neighbors yard. I found all of them and got everything back together and put the blocks on. This happened on December 9th. I think the girls are going to be OK the temps were still in the 40's. I am thinking about digging them out this weekend because it is going to warm up the first part of next week. We have received 46" of lake effect snow this week and hopefully they will have a chance to fly soon.

D Coates · January 07, 2010, 12:25:04 PM

I've got bricks, 10-frame equipment and (knock on wood) no problems with hives getting blown over. The wind here is downright nasty today with 0 being the high on Friday. Lots of snow so my BSS are naturally "covered" from the underside Four nucs in the snow with upper entrances and bricks on them. With this wicked coldsnap (below freezing since 12/24) I'll be amazed if I don't have a few hives die.

Michael Bush · January 07, 2010, 01:43:31 PM

If they looked alive when you put covers on them then they will probably do fine. If not, you will have to wait and see. As others said, it depends on how long they were exposed to the cold, how strong the wind was, how much snow got into the cluster and melted etc.

sarafina · January 08, 2010, 06:39:50 PM

Last year when Hurrican Ike made landfall, we had 100 mph winds and all I had were 8-10 rocks piled on top of my single hive. As soon as it was daylight I made a beeline to the back door to see if it was still upright. This is what I saw:

My hive was standing upright in the middle of a tree that fell - the V in the branches fell on either side.

Sorry you lost your tops and I hope your bees make it through the winter ok!