Hive Weights.

[Millet]

At what weight of stores would you decide to add feed, i have a rough idea of around 10lb of stores when there is no forage about but a more experienced view would be good.

I weighed the hive today which was 77lb in total and if i have worked it out correct that will be around 30lb in stores, would you experienced folk say that is a safe weight for the next several weeks, or is it a case of how long is a piece of string and keep weighing weekly regardless, through the mild winter, not that it is mild at the moment but it has been.
By the way the hive in question has a full celotex cosy over it with 100mm over the top/roof.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Check again in one month.

 

[REDWOOD]

A big emphasis on should be but if we have a long winter no


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Millet]

Check again in one month.

Thank you .

 

[Millet]

A big emphasis on should be but if we have a long winter no


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

So basically it is a (how long is a piece of string question), regarding the unpredictable weather.

 

[REDWOOD]

Yes


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Millet]

Yes


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Erichalfbee]

I step in at 10lb
Frequency of weighing depends on how much winter remains, expected forage and weather forecast and how much more than the 10lb they have.

 

[madasafish]

I weigh at regular intervals and keep a record.

So far I am feeding one nuc and expect to start feeding 3 hives whose weights (excluding roof ) are falling to 20Kg - which I have as a trigger point . An empty hive with no stores for me is 14.5kg approx.

 

[Millet]

When i weighed all my bits with a nadired super and stand with a full cosy on it was 44lb with no bees or stores just empty frames with foundation.

 

[Hivemaker.]

When i weighed all my bits with a nadired super and stand with a full cosy on it was 44lb with no bees or stores just empty frames with foundation.

Apart from adding the weight of the bees, also add in an estimated weight of stored pollen.

 

[Poly Hive]

And then there is isolation starvation.

REGARDLESS of what stores mine have I put on fondant for the above reason.

What is left over I dissolve in water and feed as spring syrup as in a pound to a pint. I call it insurance.

PH

 

[castanea]

My question is on feeding too:
20th Dec hive (plastic nicot ruche) weight 21.5kg plus bad weather forecast I added 2.5kg Candi.
30 th Dec hive weight 21.36kg
10Th Jan hive weight 20.6kg
Today excellent weather 13c bees orientation flight this morning. I opened the hive to put more Candi to my surprise they have taken very little of what I put on 20th Dec, colony looking very strong plus lots of bees on the upside of the feeder. What's going on? Too much sun today for me!!
Thanks
Sandra

 

[madasafish]

My question is on feeding too:
20th Dec hive (plastic nicot ruche) weight 21.5kg plus bad weather forecast I added 2.5kg Candi.
30 th Dec hive weight 21.36kg
10Th Jan hive weight 20.6kg
Today excellent weather 13c bees orientation flight this morning. I opened the hive to put more Candi to my surprise they have taken very little of what I put on 20th Dec, colony looking very strong plus lots of bees on the upside of the feeder. What's going on? Too much sun today for me!!
Thanks
Sandra

Feeder? So Candi not on top of the bars?

 

[Millet]

And then there is isolation starvation.

REGARDLESS of what stores mine have I put on fondant for the above reason.

What is left over I dissolve in water and feed as spring syrup as in a pound to a pint. I call it insurance.

PH

That is my mind made up i will be making some fondant and giving them it next week regardless, i would rather them have too much than too little.

 

[Eyeman]

And then there is isolation starvation.

REGARDLESS of what stores mine have I put on fondant for the above reason.

I thought it was only us old fashioned wood hive owners that worried about isolation starvation?
Bees in those highly insulated poly hives with added cosies surely spend their day walking around twiddling their antenee.

 

[Eyeman]

When i weighed all my bits with a nadired super and stand with a full cosy on it was 44lb with no bees or stores just empty frames with foundation.

I've noticed my wooden hives increase weight by 5-10 lb over winter when no bees were flying. I presume it's due to whether the wood gets saturated or dries out.

 

[Beefriendly]

I thought it was only us old fashioned wood hive owners that worried about isolation starvation?
Bees in those highly insulated poly hives with added cosies surely spend their day walking around twiddling their antenee.

Have to say that with poly hives it's not been an issue, to date. Unless we get a really cold spell in late Feb/March when they won't leave the new brood....then I would consider putting fondant on the frames or adding 1:1 syrup loaded into an empty brood frame and placed adjacent to them....as an emergency measure I might add, not as a routine feeding strategy.

 

[Erichalfbee]

or adding 1:1 syrup loaded into an empty brood frame and placed adjacent to them....as an emergency measure I might add, not as a routine feeding strategy.

I do that if needed but I use 2:1
I always have frames of stores in the freezer too

 

[castanea]

Hi Madasafish
The Candi is placed on top of the bars with the feeder turned upside down as a insulation to keep the Candi moist. Why is this hive getting lighter?
Sandra