Has anyone ever tried the "all season inner cover" by Honey Run Apriaries??

annette · March 13, 2007, 12:06:10 AM

Just ordered this "all season inner cover" from Honey Run apriaries.
I thought it might be good for ventillation in the hive. Anyone have any experience with this??

Understudy · March 13, 2007, 12:52:32 AM

I have not used it. I use a top entrance. Ventilation in Florida is vital.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Brian D. Bray · March 14, 2007, 11:33:00 PM

Proper ventilation anywhere is vital. Proper ventilation in beekeeping is one of the more overlooked aspects and can make termendous differences in hive performance. It does, however, need to be adjusted for local conditions.

tig · March 14, 2007, 11:44:03 PM

i agree proper ventilation is a very critical aspect of beekeeping. someone i know placed his hives at the back of his house that was cemented. the hives were beside a cemented wall and honeyflow started. he filled a super full of honey when a heat wave hit. the honey melted in the super and drowned the bees below. it wasn't just the waste of honey, but the colonys death as well.

specialkayme · January 12, 2011, 11:23:59 PM

So how did the All Season Inner Cover work out for you? Would you recommend it?

annette · January 13, 2011, 12:05:45 AM

Quote from: specialkayme on January 12, 2011, 11:23:59 PM
So how did the All Season Inner Cover work out for you? Would you recommend it?

Yep, love them. It provides wonderful ventilation in the summer and I like the foam insert on top as it provides insulation for the winter. The bees propolis the top side entrance every winter leaving just a small circle that they can fly out of. I do not have any moisture problems in the hive in the winter any more. I have them on all my hives.

Annette

tefer2 · January 13, 2011, 09:35:05 AM

I have bought some from Tim and made some from his plans on the web site. All the hives that had them gave us a bigger honey crop and had larger population than ones without. Make sure you cover the hole in the inner cover with hardware cloth in the winter. They will chew the Styrofoam and and chuck it outside. Also remove the screen in summer so they can protect the empty box. I feel that the 1 1/2 wide entrance is made to big. The bees always seem to make it one or two small holes for winter. The ones I'm building this season will only have a 3/4 by 3/4 notch for entrance

Hemlock · January 13, 2011, 09:56:36 AM

The inner covers i made are based on this design. I feel like it provided too much ventilation; more of a draft. Not really warm enough to sweat the wax out of the bees in summer. Also i was plugging all but 1 hole for winter anyway. I plan to remake them again this year with only 1 vent hole in the front.

There's nothing wrong with bees bearding in summer. Also a slatted rack is great for maintaining the temps around the brood.

Bee-Bop · January 13, 2011, 10:59:08 AM

Quote from: Hemlock on January 13, 2011, 09:56:36 AM
The inner covers i made are based on this design. I feel like it provided too much ventilation; more of a draft. Not really warm enough to sweat the wax out of the bees in summer. Also i was plugging all but 1 hole for winter anyway. I plan to remake them again this year with only 1 vent hole in the front.

There's nothing wrong with bees bearding in summer. Also a slatted rack is great for maintaining the temps around the brood.

FIRST I ever heard heat making Bees "Sweat" wax ??

Can you provide a source for this ???

Always thought wax secreation was due to develement/age of the bees !

My books must be all wrong !

Bee-Bop

AllenF · January 13, 2011, 11:19:37 AM

Your books are right. Food availability and age of the bee determine wax production. Not temp.

tefer2 · January 13, 2011, 01:18:11 PM

I guess you just have to decide what you want your bees doing in the hot summer. Outside fanning the entrances or inside making honey and bees. They never seem to hang out in the empty box in warm weather, just a little patrol work for intruders.

annette · January 13, 2011, 02:13:47 PM

I keep the top center hole screened in all year round. I don't really want the bees going up in the top. With it screened, it allows all the hot air to go out and through all the outside vent holes. I also use a telescoping cover on top of this which comes down enough to sort of cover the vent holes half way.

In winter, I still have the screen on the top and then place the foam inside.

I agree that all those vents holes are unnecessary and only one outside vent hole would be sufficient.

I also agree that they made those openings too large. Could be half the size and still provide enough ventilation.

specialkayme · January 13, 2011, 02:40:23 PM

You guys convinced me. I went ahead and ordered one. I'll try it for a year and if it seems to help, I'll build a few more. Slow and steady.

danno · January 13, 2011, 02:54:15 PM

I have these covers on every colony. In fall/early winter I add a 3-4inch book of straw. I dont have a moisture problem ever with this system. Right now we have about 24 inches of snow and all the hives at my farm have it stacked high on there covers. Before I used these it would melt off in a couple of days. I have all holes except the center inner cover hole screened. These center holes are about 2X4. The bees seldom go up in these covers.

Finski · January 13, 2011, 03:14:19 PM

.
I have same inner covers all the time. They have 10 mm wood board and foam plastic matress as insulation 5-7 cm thick.

Ventilation I arrange through wall and not via inner cover. Why to lead moisture between inner and outer cover?