Poly hive and winter

[Brigsy]

Hi there,

Trying to sort out my plans for my Paynes poly insulation for winter. Plan to put a super of celotex over the crown board and keep the supplied roof direct on the super.

Because of the sizes of the boxes vs the wooden crown board (I happen to have a poly carbonate one) There is the gap between the box and the board top and bottom which is an obvious week point. Do people just leave this or is it worth me fashioning something to make it flush?

Cheers

 

[Hivemaker.]

Plan to put a super of celotex over the crown board and keep the supplied roof direct on the super.

You could do as you mention with the super... then do away with the roof and make up a bonnet from 100mm thick reticel/kingspan to cover the entire hive.

 

[Erichalfbee]

ignore him

Hi there,

Trying to sort out my plans for my Paynes poly insulation for winter.

Your Paynes need no more insulation on top.
Without it the roof will cover the join.
Don't bother

 

[Brigsy]

Always the way with advice haha.

I have some of the Thorne foam sheets. Maybe put that over the crown board then the roof?

 

[madasafish]

I made an insulated hat to fit snugly over the roof and joints: stops condensation at the roof/crownboard/brood box joint:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/67529087@N02/21241979765/in/album-72157657931966140/

 

[Millet]

You could do as you mention with the super... then do away with the roof and make up a bonnet from 100mm thick reticel/kingspan to cover the entire hive.

50mm for the sides 100mm for the roof

 

[Brigsy]

Seems I have a decision to make haha

 

[Madge]

... There is the gap between the box and the board top and bottom which is an obvious week point. ...

I'm not sure what gap you mean - the misfit of the wooden crown board between the brood box and super?

For winter I use inner crown boards that fit inside a box ( a shallow), not underneath it. That also works as a feeder board.

 

[MuswellMetro]

why use a wooden crown board ,what is wrong with the zero bee space plastic crown board, hundred and thousand of beekeepers use plastic or galv metal queen excluders with zero bee space without many problems

you have created the problem by changing the hive from it original design

 

[Finman]

why use a wooden crown board ,what is wrong with the zero bee space plastic crown board, hundred and thousand of beekeepers use plastic or galv metal queen excluders with zero bee space without many problems

Zero bee space crush the bees and queens.

I use own made wooden floors and covers and they are better than plastic. They are cheap and easy to clean.

Millions of beekeepers use bee spaces.

But, everything depends on how you use all those things and how you arrange the colony for Winter.. But your winter is not difficult. Good wintering is not such that you put Kingspan over the hive.


.

 

[B+.]

Good wintering is not such that you put Kingspan over the hive.

I can't remember how long its been since we even had snow. It must be 3 years at least.

 

[Madge]

why use a wooden crown board ,what is wrong with the zero bee space plastic crown board, hundred and thousand of beekeepers use plastic or galv metal queen excluders with zero bee space without many problems

you have created the problem by changing the hive from it original design

I'm not sure to whom you're directing this comment - to me or to Brigsby - but as far as I can see neither of us has altered the design of the hive.

If using the shallow as an eke to contain insulation and feeders, you need to use a crown board, and the standard National wooden crown board is not ideal. It's a heat leak and creates that 'gap' Brigsby mentioned when fitted to a large poly hive like a Paynes - so, I made inner crown boards for my poly hives (but that's not necessary any more now that I'm using Abelos).

 

[Finman]

- but as far as I can see neither of us has altered the design of the hive.

).

IT has no meaning what you do. Bees stand many kind if design.

If you do not make faults, you do not learn.

Advices from this forum can be what ever. Most of them are mad or unnecessary.

As said, you winter is very friendly to bees and mercyfull to beekeepers.
.

 

[Brigsy]

Yes I am on about the gap that using a regular sized crown board creates on a thicker poly hive. You have poly brood, crown board, roof. Or super with insulation then roof. There is a one inch portion where the crown board is

 

[Brigsy]

I'm not sure what gap you mean - the misfit of the wooden crown board between the brood box and super?

For winter I use inner crown boards that fit inside a box ( a shallow), not underneath it. That also works as a feeder board.

I can see that helping. Did you just trim one to fit?

 

[pargyle]

I can see that helping. Did you just trim one to fit?

It's a good idea ... and I have a Paynes Poly Nuc where I have done just this. I use 6mm Polycarbonate top bee space crown boards on my Paynes 14 x12's which have a rim round the edge and yes, you are right, they do act as a 'spacer' between the Brood box and the super. But .. the bees propolise and gaps around the edge of the crown board and with a super with at least 50mm of Insulation on top of the hive and the standard roof on top I think the heat loss is minimal. I've checked in mid winter - not taking the crown board off - just putting my hand on it and the amount of warmth there is quite surprising.

Environments that your bees can manage with the least expenditure of energy is best for your bees. Whilst Poly hives are good insulators the more you can do to insulate the bees (even with mild winters in the UK) is good for them.

Bees will survive virtually anything you inflict upon them but ... let's try and do the best we can for them - not how little we can get away with. You are probably worrying unnecessarily about the 'gap' because polycarbonate is a good insulator - I haven't put a thermal camera on my hives in winter but I know a beekeeper who has one and if there is an opportunity I might get him to do it when it gets a bit colder - if only for my own curiosity.

 

[madasafish]

You are probably worrying unnecessarily about the 'gap' because polycarbonate is a good insulator - I haven't put a thermal camera on my hives in winter but I know a beekeeper who has one and if there is an opportunity I might get him to do it when it gets a bit colder - if only for my own curiosity.

An IR thermometer works well - and is a LOT cheaper..

 

[Poly Hive]

I have to admit I am struggling with this thread.

If something does not fit your kit, sell it or dump it and make something that does. After all you bought it.

KISS for goodness sake.

PH

 

[Brigsy]

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Brigsy]

I have to admit I am struggling with this thread.

If something does not fit your kit, sell it or dump it and make something that does. After all you bought it.

KISS for goodness sake.

PH

God forbid asking what other people might do with the same kit.