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Author Topic: 1st year: what I learned this Winter  (Read 8228 times)

Offline Finski

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #20 on: February 19, 2011, 01:01:38 am »
We do have mild winters here in N Fla.


What winter there?    day +24C and night +9C ?. We have in July that weather.


http://www.wunderground.com/US/FL/Tallahassee.html

Here is just now  -27C and day will be -16C. Snow 65 cm

http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/saa/Kouvola?parameter=4&map=weathernow&station=2830
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Offline Humanbeeing

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #21 on: February 19, 2011, 04:46:44 am »
I only wrap tar paper on the fronts and half way around the sides, with a good solid wind break on the sides and back. With the hives facing south, the fronts get nice and warm with just a little sun, allowing the bees to move a little.
Top entraces on all of them. I've gone out to check them on really cold days with the sun shining, and they are warm to the touch. They are all still strong, so far. I occasionally knock on the side with my ear to the entrance. Sounds like a lot of bees in all of them.
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Offline Acebird

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #22 on: February 19, 2011, 09:52:37 am »


As you can see I don’t wrap, but hang roofing material on three sides and not on the front.  It has been said that if you cover the front like I did last year the bees have a harder time finding the entrance when they come back from their out house flight.

This hive is facing NorthEast.  By the time the sun gets to the South West position the hive is shaded by the big tree and the woods in the background.
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Offline Finski

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #23 on: February 19, 2011, 11:27:21 am »
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I cover front side with white geotextile to protect entrance against wind, snow and birds.

So we see, that we do things controversy and bees stand everything.

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Offline Bee Happy

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #24 on: February 19, 2011, 11:55:30 am »
We do have mild winters here in N Fla.


What winter there?    day +24C and night +9C ?. We have in July that weather.


We also have a very early onset of spring.
Our summers would dissolve you like a popsicle.
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Offline Acebird

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #25 on: February 19, 2011, 12:11:01 pm »
Quote
I cover front side with white geotextile to protect entrance against wind, snow and birds.

Do you have a pic of this wrapped hive?  If you are covering over the entrance how do the bees make it out unless you have provide them a space or path.
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Offline greenbtree

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #26 on: February 19, 2011, 01:15:33 pm »
So - if you tip the hive would it be better to tip it so the condensation runs to the BACK of the hive and away from the bees (Which would probably be clustered on the South front side.)?  Have some small holes or a gap in bottom of back for water to escape?  I noticed that on the deadouts I had dead bees packed between the frame fronts and the South wall.

Also, if you have a notched inner cover, where is it?  Front or back of hive?

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Offline T Beek

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #27 on: February 19, 2011, 04:10:04 pm »
Top/inner cover notch goes on the same side and perpendicular to the bottom entrance, notched side DOWN.

I lean my hives toward the front (just always have?), but I use SBB so it wouldn't matter I guess as any liquid still would have a chance to escape, regardless of which way it was leaning.

thomas
« Last Edit: February 20, 2011, 09:13:12 am by T Beek »
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Offline Finski

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #28 on: February 20, 2011, 03:10:17 am »
Quote
I cover front side with white geotextile to protect entrance against wind, snow and birds.

  If you are covering over the entrance how do the bees make it out unless you have provide them a space or path.
When bees are able to fly outside, I take the shelters off. It happens at the beginning of Marsh.
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Offline Acebird

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #29 on: February 20, 2011, 09:32:11 am »
Wow, they can't do a poop flight from say NOv to March?
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Offline T Beek

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #30 on: February 20, 2011, 09:42:59 am »
Acebird; 5-6 (for mine its more like 3-4) months isn't uncommon to have to wait to have a cleansing flight, "IF" your a "Northern" honeybee :-D  Especially if to do so means DEATH from cold.  Its one reason why Winter bees can outlive their sister Summer bees by 5-10 times, depending on location.

See, just another way that bees and humans are so diferent ;) although we've all met some humans who behave like they haven't had a #2 in quite awhile :) although its not because they can't get to their toilet.

thomas
« Last Edit: February 20, 2011, 12:35:58 pm by T Beek »
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Offline buzzbee

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #31 on: February 20, 2011, 09:44:18 am »
Most of Finland is in the latitudes equivalent to Alaska,reaching to the Arctic circle.Southern Finland is farther north than much of Canada.

Offline Finski

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #32 on: February 20, 2011, 11:24:48 am »
Wow, they can't do a poop flight from say NOv to March?

It is Ochtober to March

In North Finland it is to April.
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: 1st year: what I learned this Winter
« Reply #33 on: February 20, 2011, 09:13:22 pm »
>So - if you tip the hive would it be better to tip it so the condensation runs to the BACK of the hive and away from the bees (Which would probably be clustered on the South front side.)?

If you have a solid bottom you also have to worry about the water running out of the hive, in which case it needs to tip forward.

>  Have some small holes or a gap in bottom of back for water to escape?

I would just tip it forward.

>  I noticed that on the deadouts I had dead bees packed between the frame fronts and the South wall.

They are attracted to heat and the sun warms the south side...
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