Winter venting-top cover-cold climate

[Algonam]

This will be my first winter as a beekeeper.
I've decided to attach styrofoam to the 4 sides of the hives, then staple tarpaper over top.
For venting, my inner covers have 2 knotches on the back and one knotch in the front. This is the same for the other hive as well. These knotches are large enough for bees to come and go one at a time.
The questions are:
1. Is this too much venting?
2. What size opening do I leave at bottom entrance?
3. Should the tarpaper and styrofoam cover over any of the vents?

[BlueBee]

It sounds like you're trying to both capture some winter time solar gain on sunny days and hold the heat at night with the insulation on the sides.  An admiral goal I will admit.

As for your questions.

It doesn't sound like too much venting to me.  I like to keep my vents (top entrances in my case) out of the prevailing winds.  Hence my hives face East.  If you have a vent on both sides, you may want to add a wind block to the prevailing wind side to prevent wind from howling through the top cover to blowing heat out.

For an entrance, I limit mine to about 9mm x 35mm.  If you go too big you promote a chimney effect in the hive.  If you go too small, the bees can't get out or the air becomes stagnant. 

Should the foam or tar cover any vents?  Maybe the vent facing the prevailing winds.

[Finski]

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First winter....

If you have solid floor, put the hive so that floor is slanting and water on floor drills out.

One hole in front wall is good. Others are harmfull.(let heat out)

how much insulation in inner cover? It should better than side walls that condensation does not happen in inner cover.

Then mouse net  .... About 6 mm  hole diameter

stryrofoam on sides is splended. Tar paper is not needed. It is better that gap between styrofoam and hive wall is  a bit ventilated.

Perhaps tarpaper protects that ice does not attach on styrofoam, like icy rain.

[windfall]

I don't see much point to tar paper over the foam I would do one or the other (but I don't see how both could hurt).

Tar paper blocks wind and some argue gives the hive solar gain for store moving and cleansing flights on those sunny calm days. It can't give the hive solar gain through the insulation, and the foam will block the wind.

[Finski]

I don't see much point to tar paper over the foam I would do one or the other (but I don't see how both could hurt).

me either. During my 49 beekeeping years I have used it in one year.

It has been "must" here in Finland too. Now with polyhives many keeps only piece of plywood to protect entrance from snow and direct wind.

[derekm]

hold a bottle that has a hole at the top vertically upright under water  does it fill with water?
will your hive fill with cold air and the heat escape even though you have a small lower entrance.?

[windfall]

I just reread the OP.
If you are insulating the sides I would most definitely insulate the top equally or more.

[Finski]

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Alnonam, what is the structure of your inner cover? Material and insulation layes? Breaths or not, feeding holes or else?

[rdy-b]

I just reread the OP.
If you are insulating the sides I would most definitely insulate the top equally or more.

this is very important point you make- ;) RDY-B

[Algonam]

Finski,

2 hives. My first year. Hives are 1" pine with solid bottom boards. Hives are on 18" high hive stands. Behind hives is a wall of mature Spruce, Balsam and cedar trees. This is the prevailing wind side (NW). Hive entrances face East.
Inner cover is pine with 3" hole in ctr for feeding. Outer covers are solid.
2 vent holes in upper rear. 1 vent hole upper front. Vent holes are large enough for 1 bee at a time. The entrance has been reduced to approx 1/2" x 2".

After reading the above comments I am now thinking I may just insulate with the pink ridgid styrofoam with a small shim in between the sides and the insulation for breathability and put 2 layers on the roof.
Also, I am thinking about taping over the 2 rear vents and leaving the front upper vent open. I expect I should cut out the venting and entrance(from the foam)
We don't get enough snow to cover the hives as they sit close to 40" high. Snow coverage is usually 2' unless we've just been dumped on by a warmer storm from the South or the East. It eventaully settles back to approx 2'.
Over the last 3 nights we have just received our first heavy frosts-late for us. Current temps are above freezing during day and below at night (typical). No snow yet, even though some of you South of here are getting it!
Any and all recommendations are appreciated!

[Finski]

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What about varroa? What have you done or are you going with trickling?

[T Beek]

IMO Having holes on 'opposing sides' can/will create cross-draft over top of bees.  Not a good thing for bees trying to generate heat and stay warm I'm afraid.  Personally I wouldn't insulate anything other than Top, but that's just me.  Too much insulation can have the opposite effect of 'keeping inside cold" especially during extreme conditions (a week or two of minus 35F), forcing bees to work hard to maintain temps.  There are some who will disagree with this opinion but chances are they may also be heating their hives w/ electricity or performing other duties. 

And let the debate continue........... ;)

Entrances or holes, particularly during winter should always be on the "same side" to prevent cross-drafts IMO.  I'd suggest plugging up the back side.  One top exit/entry will allow enough condensation and bee gas to escape.  For my own hives I use both top and bottom entries, both on the same side.  I reduce bottom entry to smallest hole and Top to 1/4 -1/2 "  Other beeks do different things and that's not necessarily bad or good, just different 8-)

thomas

[Finski]

[quote author=T Beek link=topic=35173.msg291959#msg291959 date=1319981096

.  Too much insulation can have the opposite effect of 'keeping inside cold" especially during extreme conditions (a week or two of minus 35F), forcing bees to work hard to maintain temps.  
- I have nevet met too much insulation

- you do not understand about energy saving or insulation a bit. Stop writing now.


There are some who will disagree with this opinion but chances are they may also be heating their hives

-  höpö höpööö

And let the debate continue........... ;)

- more true knowledge PLEASE

[BlueBee]

There are some who will disagree with this opinion but chances are they may also be heating their hives w/ electricity or performing other duties. 

And let the debate continue........... ;)

I'm all debated out for this month  :-D

[Finski]

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You cannot win stupid person with debating.

[T Beek]

So sorry, i forget that the finski "knows it all" :roll:  Nor can you win a debate with name calling.  That belongs on the playground not here.

thomas

[Finski]

So sorry, i forget that the finski "knows it all" :roll:  Nor can you win a debate with name calling.  That belongs on the playground not here.

thomas

yes I know much. I have had time to learn.

there are two kind of persons: voice and echo

[rdy-b]

  MEAN old FINNMAN-       :) -RDY-B
enten
tenten  it is a finish counting song-much the same as enie meenie minne moo-childern use it to pick who is it
teelika  
menten                                           Anna Falchi
hissun          
         
kissun          
vaapula
vissun
eelin          
keelin
klot
viipula
vaapula
vot
eskon
saun
piun
paun
nyt
mä
lähden
tästä
pelistä
pois
puh
pah
pelistä
pois

[T Beek]

Two kinds of persons?  Sounds more like a limitation to me.  Perhaps you meant seekers and suckers?

With all that experience one should know that "All beekeeping is local."  To simply condemn others for successfully keeping bees in ways that oppose your own philosophy is infantile and serves little purpose other than to stroke ones own ego.

I find it more and more difficult to believe anything finski says anymore :'(.

Xin Loi.  (time to close this one down I think/hope)

thomas

[Finski]

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Boys, when did you last check your medication?