Barmy Weather And Bee Hive

[Millet]

It's been frosty and peeing down for a good while with no flying time for the bees but they still managed to make the hive heavier from 97lb to 112lb, then yesterday it was mild and sunny and by the look of thing's just about every Bee in the hive was out it looked more like a summers day, it was not just cleansing flights though as they where all heading and coming back from 2 different directions, it can not have been for water either as they are around 20yr's from a big pond and stream that runs past the hive spot.
Today though it's dull and peeing down again, i know robbing of other hives was mentioned earlier on another post BUT what other possible food sources could they be bringing in this time of the year. one or two Snowdrops have popped up but not in large amounts.
Thanks
Steve.

 

[Softley]

Snowdrop, winter cherry, winter honeysuckle, winter aconite, primrose...

Seems like a large increase though.

 

[Erichalfbee]

still managed to make the hive heavier from 97lb to 112lb,

I think this may grow into one of the forum's great imponderables.
Barmy or Balmy?

 

[Millet]

I'm 99% accurate with my calculation in weight, i just thought you clever folk would have experienced such over many years of keeping insects and maybe give a definite answer, not to worry if it can not be worked out for now, i'm sure i will somewhere down the line..

This weather sure is Balmy /Barmy ... Barmy/Balmy or something like that somewhere, in this weird world.

 

[Chriszog]

Confused now, how do you "calculate weight" if you don't weigh the hive?

 

[Millet]

Confused now, how do you "calculate weight" if you don't weigh the hive?

I'm confused now.. lol ..where did i say i don't weigh the hive, .
Seriously though i do weigh the hive with a specialist set of fishing scales, i weigh opposite sides and then add the 2 readings together...or should i have said i have a sixth sense.

 

[Softley]

I'm not sure exactly how you're weighing the hive but the difference in weight between the two sets of data may be an indication of the accuracy of the method. If there is a difference in the height you lift each side of the hive as you weigh, there would be more force exerted on the opposite side and therefore less on the scale.

 

[Millet]

I'm not sure exactly how you're weighing the hive but the difference in weight between the two sets of data may be an indication of the accuracy of the method. If there is a difference in the height you lift each side of the hive as you weigh, there would be more force exerted on the opposite side and therefore less on the scale.

The hive is hefted/weighed and judged just as the stand leaves the floor for several seconds, one side at a time by the way, not the full shebang in one go..

 

[Softley]

The hive is hefted/weighed and judged just as the stand leaves the floor for several seconds, one side at a time by the way, not the full shebang in one go..

Yes, and then added to the reading taken from the other side. I'm just saying that the further the hive is lifted (on one side) then the force on the other side will increase. The higher you lift one side the lower the reading on the scale. I'm just not sure how much an affect an inch or so difference will have on the weight reading. I imagine the needle is bobbing about a bit as you read off the scale?

 

[Erichalfbee]

This is how I do it

 

[Millet]

Yes, and then added to the reading taken from the other side. I'm just saying that the further the hive is lifted (on one side) then the force on the other side will increase. The higher you lift one side the lower the reading on the scale. I'm just not sure how much an affect an inch or so difference will have on the weight reading. I imagine the needle is bobbing about a bit as you read off the scale?

I could pick the full hive up and throw over the fence with ease if i ever felt the need so i'm certainly able to dangle each side on a set of scales.

 

[BeeJayBee]

It's been frosty and peeing down for a good while with no flying time for the bees but they still managed to make the hive heavier from 97lb to 112lb,

How much rain would be absorbed by a wooden hive?

 

[Millet]

Sorry BeeJay

But most posts seem repetitive because folk don't read them properly ME being one of the offenders .
My hive can't absorb water from the outside as it's insulated ..

 

[BeeBeeKa]

The hive is hefted/weighed and judged just as the stand leaves the floor for several seconds, one side at a time by the way, not the full shebang in one go..

You did not like physic in a school, did not you?
Me too
But even I realize that you are definitely ignoring the basic rules of gears. Thus your weighing can`t be correct. The only wright weighing: put the whole weight on your scale. There is no other way around it, unless you are a rocket scientist alike ( Ok. Take a weight measurement once, and then move your scale hook towards the middle of stand…let`s say 2 inch, take measurement again… Abra-kebabra… the weight will be more than the previous… Now you should feel that there was something wrong with what you did )

Yes, and then added to the reading taken from the other side. I'm just saying that the further the hive is lifted (on one side) then the force on the other side will increase. The higher you lift one side the lower the reading on the scale. I'm just not sure how much an affect an inch or so difference will have on the weight reading.

That`s also correct.

 

[Davelin]

You did not like physic in a school, did not you?
Me too
But even I realize that you are definitely ignoring the basic rules of gears. Thus your weighing can`t be correct. The only wright weighing: put the whole weight on your scale. There is no other way around it, unless you are a rocket scientist alike ( Ok. Take a weight measurement once, and then move your scale hook towards the middle of stand…let`s say 2 inch, take measurement again… Abra-kebabra… the weight will be more than the previous… Now you should feel that there was something wrong with what you did )

Absolute nonsense!

Firstly it's nothing at all to do with gears.

If you lift each side just off the stand as shown in Ericha's pictures and add the two readings together it gives the exact weight of the hive.

It's a very simple application of the principle of moments.

Admittedly if you tilt the hive 45 degrees so it is pivoting on one edge you will get a false reading on your scales, but an inch or so off the stand will make minimal difference.

 

[Millet]

Absolute nonsense!

Firstly it's nothing at all to do with gears.

If you lift each side just off the stand as shown in Ericha's pictures and add the two readings together it gives the exact weight of the hive.

It's a very simple application of the principle of moments.

Admittedly if you tilt the hive 45 degrees so it is pivoting on one edge you will get a false reading on your scales, but an inch or so off the stand will make minimal difference.

 

[Cussword]

You did not like physic in a school, did not you?
Me too
But even I realize that you are definitely ignoring the basic rules of gears. Thus your weighing can`t be correct. The only wright weighing: put the whole weight on your scale. There is no other way around it, unless you are a rocket scientist alike ( Ok. Take a weight measurement once, and then move your scale hook towards the middle of stand…let`s say 2 inch, take measurement again… Abra-kebabra… the weight will be more than the previous… Now you should feel that there was something wrong with what you did )

For pity's sake, it's a beehive! Some experienced beekeepers heft their hives, it doesn't have to be down to the last ounce!

 

[madasafish]

I'm only a simple physicist so I use a digital scales which beeps when it has a proper weight.

I weigh the hive plus floor less roof and cosy. which makes lifting much easier and less fussy.. And work by deducting prior measurements..

I lift one end about 5cms, weigh and then lift the other. Add together and that's it.

It is not rocket science. Simple mechanics which was taught in school when I was about 14 years old...

KISS.

 

[wessexmario]

even if the adding each sides method doesn't produce an exactly accurate weight, (the mathematics prove that it will be pretty close - it's all based on levers and moments of force, differing angles of the vectors can produce some variation), but for our purposes any error doesn't matter as the errors will be both small and a reasonably consistent factor.

What the beekeeper is interested in is "Is the hive gaining or losing weight?", so if the same method is used each time and the figures recorded, you'll get the correct trend, even if the figures are imprecise.

 

[BeeBeeKa]

It is not rocket science. Simple mechanics which was taught in school when I was about 14 years old...KISS.

Ok then. Now it`s your turn to explain to Millet why your simple mechanics do not work for him well