getting ready for winter questions

[popcornpie]

I have a national (brood and half) with OMF. Do I need to put insulation above the crown board for winter or will the bees keep themselves warm? What is it best to use? Does it still need ventilation at the top?

Also what is the best way to protect from woodpeckers? I have 2 that regularly visit my garden and I don't want my bees to become a tasty winter snack!

Thank you.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Firstly the hive doesn't need ventilation on top at any time of the year.

For insulation, just get a piece of 50mm kingspan/celotex board the size of the crownboard and glue that to the underside of the roof - keep it there all year.

 

[Itchy]

Agreed

 

[Erichalfbee]

For insulation, just get a piece of 50mm kingspan/celotex board the size of the crownboard and glue that to the underside of the roof - keep it there all year.



Also a good reason to have deep roofs so that the join twixt coverboard and brood box is covered well.

 

[Andy Cav]

Or if you have a gabled roof fill an eke or super with Kingspan

 

[popcornpie]

Thanks everyone.

How do I protect against woodpeckers? I've seen a picture with mesh wrapped round the hive but can't they get their beaks through the holes?

 

[Cazza]

Thanks everyone.

How do I protect against woodpeckers? I've seen a picture with mesh wrapped round the hive but can't they get their beaks through the holes?

I make a wigwam from hazel poles and netting which doesn't touch the hive. Bees can fly in and out, woodies can look but not touch.
Cazza

 

[Brigsy]

Liking the wigwam idea. Sounds more natural than a wire hairnet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[user 6228]

For insulation, just get a piece of 50mm kingspan/celotex board the size of the crownboard and glue that to the underside of the roof - keep it there all year.
.

Not enough but owt is better than nowt

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not enough but owt is better than nowt

Oh.....my Cedar hives have a full cosy but only from roughly October to May.

 

[bees knees]

Does everyone insulate their hives for winter? I've never done it and not had a problem. I thought the bees were capable of regulating their own temperature.

 

[Itchy]

They need it all year round

 

[pargyle]

They need it all year round

+1 ... It just makes it that much easier for them to regulate the temperature inside the hive if they are protected from the extremes of temperature outside the hive ... No brainer !

 

[masterBK]

I protect my hives from green woodpeckers by draping sheets of strawberry netting over clusters of 4 or 5 hives weighed down by house bricks. They don't usually attack beehives until the ground is frozen fro several days preventing them getting their usual food of ants so Green woodpeckers usually only a problem in January & february in my part of UK. Long range weather forecast gives you a weeks notice of impending deep frosts so plenty of time to get the netting on.

 

[Goran]

Does everyone insulate their hives for winter? I've never done it and not had a problem. I thought the bees were capable of regulating their own temperature.

For me the most important insulation is honey (and pollen), mine are in 2cm thick wooden hives. Winter losses zero or near zero.. Spring build up explosive. If they develope faster I would only catch the swarms and do the splitting. At mid April they are around 10-15 frames of brood usually, more will be trouble for me..

Forgot, as my mentor says - colonies never died of cold during winter, they died due starvation and diseases..

Insulation is something I believe has sense, but basically not necessary.

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=576&pictureid=3086

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=576&pictureid=3088

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=576&pictureid=3087

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=523&pictureid=3132

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=523&pictureid=3131

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=523&pictureid=2817

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=523&pictureid=2818

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=523&pictureid=2819

 

[Arfermo]

Does everyone insulate their hives for winter? I've never done it and not had a problem. I thought the bees were capable of regulating their own temperature.

No - never. Bees have been around long enough to know how to cope imho and I have never, ever lost a hive in winter due to cold. Starvation once only some 4 years ago.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have most of my colonies in poly boxes.
The one timber one has a PIR cosy

No - never. Bees have been around long enough to know how to cope imho and I have never, ever lost a hive in winter due to cold. Starvation once only some 4 years ago.

That's true but they didn't evolve to live in thin walled wooden boxes.....imho.

 

[Jimmy]

Firstly the hive doesn't need ventilation on top at any time of the year.

For insulation, just get a piece of 50mm kingspan/celotex board the size of the crownboard and glue that to the underside of the roof - keep it there all year.

Any glue recommendations for celotex to crown board or roof? Wood glue trial has failed, have seen silicon sealant suggested.

 

[user 6228]

Any glue recommendations for celotex to crown board or roof? Wood glue trial has failed, have seen silicon sealant suggested.

Try Unibond Megagrip plus outdoor grab glue (Screwfix). I use it to glue my PIR hives together.

 

[Jimmy]

Try Unibond Megagrip plus outdoor grab glue (Screwfix). I use it to glue my PIR hives together.

Thanks, will try.