How beneficial is a freestanding canopy for the bees?

[ugcheleuce]

Hello everyone

I know that it is beneficial for beekeepers if their bee hives are situated in a bee stall or under a partially enclosed verandah, but how does it benefit the bees? And would bees benefit at all if the canopy was not closed on three sides or connected to another building, but entirely freestanding, such as in these images?

I'm particularly interested in whether such a canopy would have any effect on the hive's ability to regulate its temperature (e.g. if the colony wasn't very strong, whether such a canopy would help them with heat retention). I seem to recall from my school days in science or geography class that a roof would have an effect on dew or something, but I'm not sure how that applies here.

Right now, my bee hive sits on a wooden chair in an open field. A fellow beginner beekeeper feels that I should at least have a canopy over it, otherwise the bees will struggle to maintain temperature during cold spells. I have no idea either way. I can see how an enclosure on three sides might reduce the effect of wind, but not how a freestanding canopy can have any benefit to the hive. But maybe I'm wrong...?

Samuel

 

[user 6228]

...
Right now, my bee hive sits on a wooden chair in an open field. A fellow beginner beekeeper feels that I should at least have a canopy over it, otherwise the bees will struggle to maintain temperature during cold spells. I have no idea either way. I can see how an enclosure on three sides might reduce the effect of wind, but not how a freestanding canopy can have any benefit to the hive. But maybe I'm wrong...?

Samuel

a canopy with an open front (to the south) but closed back and sides will improve heat retention in two ways.
Shelter from the wind (forced convection)
and shelter from the night sky. (net radiation losses)

if you dont have sides you are left with reducing radiation losses at night.

 

[ugcheleuce]

If you dont have sides you are left with reducing radiation losses at night.

Would you say that the effect of radiation loss is negligible?

How high above the hive must the canopy be to qualify as a "canopy", to reduce radiation loss? I mean, can't I just put another piece of planking on top of the hive to get the same effect? Or... is it perhaps not the height of the canopy but the length of the overhang of the canopy that matters?

And... does it matter what the material under the canopy is made of (i.e. will the canopy be less effective if the floor under the canopy is grass, or soil, or wood, of concrete)?

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Hi Samuel,


You said, "Right now, my bee hive sits on a wooden chair in an open field."


To be honest, I'd be more worried about relying on a chair as a hive stand!


Best wishes for your beekeeping though!


Dusty

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Would you say that the effect of radiation loss is negligible?

How high above the hive must the canopy be to qualify as a "canopy", to reduce radiation loss? I mean, can't I just put another piece of planking on top of the hive to get the same effect? Or... is it perhaps not the height of the canopy but the length of the overhang of the canopy that matters?

And... does it matter what the material under the canopy is made of (i.e. will the canopy be less effective if the floor under the canopy is grass, or soil, or wood, of concrete)?

It would be simpler, cheaper and easier to insert a sheet of insulation such as expanded polystyrene, celotex or kingspan into the roof of your hive. With all insulation diminishing returns operate. I put 1" (25mm) insulation sheet into the frame of my clear crownboards and lift it out when I want to look through the crownboard. Others seem to use 100mm thick but its much more expensive and unwieldy in my opinion

 

[ugcheleuce]

You said, "Right now, my bee hive sits on a wooden chair in an open field." ... To be honest, I'd be more worried about relying on a chair as a hive stand!

I'm perfectly happy with the chair. I used to have the hive on bricks, but everyone felt that it was too close to the grass, so I put it on a chair. The chair no longer has a back, though... and it's got a bigger seat now.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Right now, my bee hive sits on a wooden chair in an open field. A fellow beginner beekeeper feels that I should at least have a canopy over it, otherwise the bees will struggle to maintain temperature during cold spells.

There may be benefits from a canopy, but if you make it high enough so you can add and remove say 3 supers I'd guess the gain would be negligible.

If the site is particularly exposed I'd add a block of insulation above the crownboard and below the roof, then use some windbreak material as a fence.

 

[Dishmop]

All I can say is that our vans were kept in a three sided barn and I cant remember a time when there was any frost on them, even when puddles were frozen.

I think it also helps if hives are stood on paving slabs.

 

[enrico]

You need the legs of your chair on slabs.....the weight of the hive WILL push them into wet ground and it ....WILL fall over!
E