Newbie Daft Question No1

[lorrick]

If we are going to still have the occasional frost over night or at least very low overnight temps, do you insulate the hive ? or just let it bee
Richard

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you have an open mesh floor then top insulation is the way to go. I have 50mm of EPS ...Kingspan or such... over the crown board

 

[lorrick]

Thanks for that, I have nearly finished my extension on the Bungalow so have a fair amount of bits knocking about.
Thanks
Richard

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks for that, I have nearly finished my extension on the Bungalow so have a fair amount of bits knocking about.
Thanks
Richard

Keep it. It's useful stuff. You can make excellent dummy boards out of it if you need to dummy a small colony in a big box. Remember to seal the edges, you can get aluminium tape but packing tape works just as well though it looks ugly, otherwise the bees will chew it.
No need to seal in the roof though

 

[itma]

Its good to have insulation in during high summer (to prevent overheating), during Apiguard treatment as summer is ending (for more reliable vaporisation of Thymol), over winter (obviously), and for helping spring build-up and comb-drawing.

In fact, I've been scratching my head, wondering why anyone ever takes it out ...

 

[MandF]

Its good to have insulation in during high summer (to prevent overheating), during Apiguard treatment as summer is ending (for more reliable vaporisation of Thymol), over winter (obviously), and for helping spring build-up and comb-drawing.

In fact, I've been scratching my head, wondering why anyone ever takes it out ...

I have an experiment going on my 2 hives - both are overwintered, one was quite a bit larger coming into spring, so I have left the kingspan on the smaller one and will do so all year, and will see if it catches up and/or yields as much as the one (now) without.

The larger one is still well ahead so far..

 

[galileo]

Re insulation....

I've been scratching my head, wondering why anyone ever takes it out ...

 

[Tom Bick]

If we are going to still have the occasional frost over night or at least very low overnight temps, do you insulate the hive ? or just let it bee
Richard

Bugger the bees if we are still due frost my potatoes will need earthing up

I have filled that gap in the roof with insulation so is permanently on the hives all year round. A bit odd that gap in the roves never quite understood it I think its a hang up from solid floors.

 

[enrico]

Bugger the bees if we are still due frost my potatoes will need earthing up

I have filled that gap in the roof with insulation so is permanently on the hives all year round. A bit odd that gap in the roves never quite understood it I think its a hang up from solid floors.

Yes it is from when us oldies used solid floors!! Oh.....the good old days with no diseases or mites......sigh!!

 

[Dishmop]

I'm quite happy that if mine survived the winter in uninsulated hives then they shouldnt need it now.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Its good to have insulation in during high summer (to prevent overheating), during Apiguard treatment as summer is ending (for more reliable vaporisation of Thymol), over winter (obviously), and for helping spring build-up and comb-drawing.

In fact, I've been scratching my head, wondering why anyone ever takes it out ...

Not easy to remove from poly hives

 

[itma]

I'm quite happy that if mine survived the winter in uninsulated hives then they shouldnt need it now.

If it didn't actually kill them, that makes your way ideal?

Not easy to remove {insulation} from poly hives

As you may have noted from previous posts, I have an insulation super on my Pains 14x12 poly, because the roof is thinner than the walls.
However, I suspect that extra roof insulation makes most difference on wooden hives, due to their lower overall thermal performance.

 

[Barbarian]

I'm with Dishmop on this one.

Insulation or not ---- this could run and run.

Check what the locals do. Might help, might not.

 

[Tom Bick]

Yes it is from when us oldies used solid floors!! Oh.....the good old days with no diseases or mites......sigh!!

Starting to show your age enrico

 

[Polyanwood]

My advice is that if thre is a lot of brood and relatively few bees to cover ( A common problem in Spring) and some very cold night temperatures, then put the OMF back in until the night time temperature is higher. You might need it in for another 3 weeks.

I have had some chilled brood in my hives due to cold nights

On the insulation question. I think it only does good, and can do no harm. What can do harm is people wrapping up their hives in things like cling film or plastic so that their is very little air circulation.

 

[enrico]

Starting to show your age enrico

More to the point.....my age is beginning to show!

 

[itma]

I'm with Dishmop on this one.

Insulation or not ---- this could run and run.

Check what the locals do. Might help, might not.

For sure, extra insulation is not needed throughout the year.
Some (many?) colonies will survive without.

The opinion, which I share with a growing number, is that additional insulation beyond that provided by a wooden hive is a benefit.
Just a benefit one can take advantage of, not a necessity.
Definitely not any harm.
And not expensive, difficult, etc.
Worth trying if you haven't.

End of.

 

[lorrick]

Well I am glad it wasn't such a Daft 1st Question Richard

 

[itma]

Well I am glad it wasn't such a Daft 1st Question Richard

As you'll discover, there are usually more daft answers than questions!

 

[Susan1]

I asked about insulation when I first started and got the usual answers = one yes of course other no never did this. I have never done this but even though both hives survived the last 2 winters, I am going to give it a try this winter. That is if they survive the summer.