Moisture

[mat]

Has anybody used silica gel or other desiccants to fight moisture in the hive during winter.

[Cindi]

Mat, I have not, I don't think it would be a good idea.  If you have a top ventilation slot in the front of the inner cover you shouldn't have to worry about putting these chemicals into your hives.  Have a wonderful and beautiful day in this great life.  Cindi

[Finsky]

Has anybody used silica gel or other desiccants to fight moisture in the hive during winter.

Half of honey will turn to water and another half to carbondiokside.
Bees manage well without silica. Don't do it complicated!

[Michael Bush]

>Has anybody used silica gel or other desiccants to fight moisture in the hive during winter.

Sugar would work better and they can eat it later...

But a top entrance seems to be sufficient.

[Finsky]

Sugar would work better and they can eat it later...

And where that come from? Mere hobby imagination.
Now one in Finland use that and bees are in good condition.

We give in Finland dry sugar in special feeder, but not to catch moisture.

[Michael Bush]

>And where that come from? Mere hobby imagination.

A commercial beekeeper in New York who puts a newspaper on top of the top bars, a box on top of that and sugar on the newspaper.  I've tried it this year and will let you know how it works out.

[Finsky]

A commercial beekeeper in New York who puts a newspaper on top of the top bars,

Perhaps, but they do not need it.  I have löearned so much chemistry, that sugar is not able to have affection on such an amount of water what hive produces during winter. 

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[mat]

I was thinking about those small packets with silica that you find in many products you buy: cloth, shose, elactrnics etc. It is cheap, it easy to make it unaccessible for bees, and I thought of putting it on the inner cover.

[Finsky]

I was thinking about those small packets with silica that you find in many products you buy: cloth, shose, elactrnics etc. It is cheap, it easy to make it unaccessible for bees, and I thought of putting it on the inner cover.

You should understand that if I give 20 kg sugar to the hive, it produces 10 liter water. How much you need silica and why. Bee have no moisture problem if you put things in old way. All kind of trick. Thery are not needed. It makes not things better.


Even to me this forum is too complicated to understand. Problems just come from air. Not prom practice.  I think that this is not place of learnig.  No wonder that American bees try to escape from hives.

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[TwT]

  No wonder that American bees try to escape from hives.

HEHEHEHEHEHEHE, glad to Finsky is back posting regular again  :-D  ;) , my hives are tilted forward all year, I have a slot cut in my intercover and use a entrance reducer, thats all I do ever winter and have never had trouble with moisture...

[Cindi]

Finsky and TWT, you both make me wanna laugh!!!!!  Funnneeeee things you say.  Have a wonderful and beautiful day, my forum friends.  Cindi

[mat]

I have all the things in my hives: screaned botttoms, upper notchs in inner covers, all my hives are tilted, and I do not have "moisture problem". So far (knock on he wood) I have 100% survival through the winters. But even though when I open the hives in the spring in some the outer frames are kind of wet and greysh. And this is what I was just thinking about "aloud" to prevent this excess. I agree, may be it's overkill. A propos "American bees try to escape" the reason is known and it's defferent.

[Mklangelo]

I was thinking about those small packets with silica that you find in many products you buy: cloth, shose, elactrnics etc. It is cheap, it easy to make it unaccessible for bees, and I thought of putting it on the inner cover.

You should understand that if I give 20 kg sugar to the hive, it produces 10 liter water. How much you need silica and why. Bee have no moisture problem if you put things in old way. All kind of trick. Thery are not needed. It makes not things better.


Even to me this forum is too complicated to understand. Problems just come from air. Not prom practice.  I think that this is not place of learnig.  No wonder that American bees try to escape from hives.





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That's quite a statement Finsky.  I have learned a great deal here.  Yes there are different opinions for almost every question asked, but one chooses what he wants sort of like a buffet (sivupöytä).  I myself tend to think the simplest answer is almost always the best one.  So far that philosophy has worked as my bees are doing great.

I have one guiding principle:  The bees know what to do.  I try to stay out of the way as much as I can.  I just try to make their job as easy as possible, but it's the bees that do the work, not me.  I play a supporting role, nothing more.

[Brian D. Bray]

>And where that come from? Mere hobby imagination.

A commercial beekeeper in New York who puts a newspaper on top of the top bars, a box on top of that and sugar on the newspaper.  I've tried it this year and will let you know how it works out.

What's new about that?  My mentor taught me that "emergency" feeding method back in 1960. 

[Michael Bush]

>What's new about that?  My mentor taught me that "emergency" feeding method back in 1960.

I'm sure he was a hobbiest too... ;)

[Brian D. Bray]

Actualy he was a side-liner.  Had close to 100 hives.  Cut hair Tuesday-Saturday and on Sunday & Monday we would walk up to 10 miles one-way to check his beeyards.  He was 86 and I was 11, When I turned 16 I got a car and we didn't have to walk anymore.  I learned a lot on those walks--the topic was bees, as always--probably more than when I was actually working a hive.  I learned so much from him that I didn't comprehend everything I knew.  It took another 10 years before my mind caught up with the information.

[TwT]

Dang Brian I always thought you was a old man (Ole Geezer ;) ) THOUGHT THEY ONLY HAD HORSE AND WAGONS BACK THEN :) !!!!!!