klisic
New Bee
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2012
- Messages
- 65
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- stalybridge
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 3
Who's going with db config for winter ?
First year of trying it, every frame in top brood box is full and capped. I think that should be enough as I never had to feed this year !!Not me 14x12
Is one bb not full of stores ?I'm on double brood as box still full of bees when looked to remove it. So fingers crossed. Would love to have a camera in there so could see they are ok!
But if you have db you don't need to worry about that, that's the idea I hope !!My first winter I left my hive on brood and a half - unpicking it in the spring wasn't fun which is why I moved to 12x14s this year.
Who's going with db config for winter ?
First year of trying it, !
Finman my bees where on at least 11 frames of brood in summer, so I'm sticking with that config.First of all, you should reduce the wintering room according the size of the bee cluster.
If the hive has 6 frames of brood before autumn, it needs 6 frames room to over winter.
If hive has 8 frames brood, 10 frame box is enough.
Douple brood wintering room is needed, if the hive has 12-15 frames brood.
In practice it means that hive had 6-8 boxes in the middle of summer.
If you have too much room for bees during winter, it does not give such shelter to the bees as it should give.
Bees heat themselves and heat escapes to the vain space of hive. Then moisture condensates onto store frames. So, extra room is harmull.
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Finman my bees where on at least 11 frames of brood in summer, so I'm sticking with that config.
Finman my bees where on at least 11 frames of brood in summer, so I'm sticking with that config.
Thought feral bees always move up as they naturally store above and then move up in winter !!I had that configuration last year. Thought they would move up. They didn't and just had all that space above them to keep warm.
Would it not be a good idea to switch the boxes round?
I had that configuration last year. Thought they would move up. They didn't and just had all that space above them to keep warm.
Would it not be a good idea to switch the boxes round?
Thought feral bees always move up as they naturally store above and then move up in winter !!
I'm sticking with this config. Do you think they'll use a whole bb full of stores ? And what's the difference in a brood and half compared to db?If they have too much space, it is better to take off. Loot at the situation of brood.
In spring extra room really harms build up.
yes, allways follow their natural behaviour.
But if you have db you don't need to worry about that, that's the idea I hope !!
Yes I hope it does, it's been good year here and bees seem healthy so fingers crossed !!Be interested to see you post in the spring how it worked out for you.
Who's going with db config for winter ?
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