Hive heater

[itma]

I've seen that ad, been on there a long time. Seller has a thermostat controller which he promotes to use with them, about £29. I kind of thought that as its damp not cold that kills them why bother? Surely added heat would mean unnecessary brooding throughout the winter and more stores required? (Not talking about use in really cold places).
Please correct me if wrong.

Its actually advantageous (less stores consumed) if it is cold enough for the bees to cluster.

Even Finman (with his cold winters) does not use them all through the winter.
But (as I recall) he has found them useful to kickstart brood-raising, in order that the bees are ready at the start of the foraging season.

 

[oliver90owner]

Please correct me if wrong.

Wrong on two counts.

Thermostat would be set for frost conditions for most of the winter, so little brooding going on at these temperatures anyway. Bees are not kept 'warm' - just less cold - which is advantageous to reduce feeding requirements and the dew-point inside the hive would be avoided for the most part, therefore keeping them dry.

The things do need a bit of control and a plan of how to operate witth it. Needs thinking about, in other words. Finman will have a ready made plan to put into operation when required.

Experience would reveal how many fewer bees were lost from the cluster in the coldest months (every one is advantageous for the spring expansion). There is always a cost versus return balance to be checked out. Might only be in use for a couple or three weeks for our winters, then again for the spring expansion.

Far more to it than just dismissing it out of hand.

 

[Skyhook]

As I recall, Finmans favourite use for them is on the side of a box with a small colony. Acts like the other half of a larger cluster.

 

[For want of a better word]

Reptile heater mats and thermostatic controllers are around £30

If it gets that cold midwinter you could simply take your reptile to bed............

 

[justme]

Please correct me if wrong.

Wrong on two counts.

Thermostat would be set for frost conditions for most of the winter, so little brooding going on at these temperatures anyway. Bees are not kept 'warm' - just less cold - which is advantageous to reduce feeding requirements and the dew-point inside the hive would be avoided for the most part, therefore keeping them dry.

The things do need a bit of control and a plan of how to operate witth it. Needs thinking about, in other words. Finman will have a ready made plan to put into operation when required.

Experience would reveal how many fewer bees were lost from the cluster in the coldest months (every one is advantageous for the spring expansion). There is always a cost versus return balance to be checked out. Might only be in use for a couple or three weeks for our winters, then again for the spring expansion.

Far more to it than just dismissing it out of hand.

Thanks O2O:.) Good points.
I did mention though that they do also sell thermostats that will take several mats plugged in.