Removing Winter insulation and unblock roof ventilation

[john1]

Hi,
I had insulated my hive with Kingspan 50mm in winter. I put it in an empty super just above the super with frames and some honey. It looks like the whether is much better now. So, is it safe to remove it?
And also, I had blocked the ventilation on the roof with a tape. Is it safe to remove that as well?
Thanks

 

[Boston Bees]

I had insulated my hive with Kingspan 50mm in winter. I put it in an empty super just above the super with frames and some honey. It looks like the whether is much better now. So, is it safe to remove it?

Yes

And also, I had blocked the ventilation on the roof with a tape. Is it safe to remove that as well?

I would block that all year, personally. Opinions differ .....

 

[Erichalfbee]

In the wooden hives I keep the insulation stays in the roof all year

 

[jeff33]

I leave the insultation on all year, and I don't really see what the point of the roof ventilation is for.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Hi,
I had insulated my hive with Kingspan 50mm in winter. I put it in an empty super just above the super with frames and some honey. It looks like the whether is much better now. So, is it safe to remove it?
And also, I had blocked the ventilation on the roof with a tape. Is it safe to remove that as well?
Thanks

1 yes but don't forget insulation works both ways - keeps heat in during winter and out in summer so the bees can regulate conditions more easily.
2 no point in playing about opening holes in the roof in my opinion. I use a abelo poly hives with solid crown boards and one piece insulated roof.above all year round.

 

[Wilco]

See comment by @elainemary about poly feeders, I suspect the advantage is through top insulation effectively being on.

https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/poly-vs-wood.52757/

 

[blackcloud]

I leave the insultation on all year, and I don't really see what the point of the roof ventilation is for.

Exactly
The insulation will keep the baking sun off during hot days and keep the hive warm on cold nights.
Only use the varroa monitor tray when monitoring-
the bees regulate their own temperature and humidity by circulating air through the floor so imposing ventilation on them is blindly counterproductive.
They know far more about it than we ever will.
And they've been doing it a bit longer too.

 

[Nannysbees]

Taken ours off now

 

[Erichalfbee]

Taken ours off now

Keep it in the roof though...especially if you have one of those metal covered wooden roofs. I top all my wooden hives with Abelo roofs

 

[Nannysbees]

Keep it in the roof though...especially if you have one of those metal covered wooden roofs. I top all my wooden hives with Abelo roofs

Thank you I will

 

[john1]

Thank you all

 

[Jules59]

The holes in the crown boards are for feeding, aren't they?
In my first year I kept a hole for ventilation and got lots of condensation and mould. Since keeping the holes closed Ive had no mould.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The holes in the crown boards are for feeding, aren't they?

Yes

 

[Gilberdyke John]

The holes in the crown boards are for feeding, aren't they?
In my first year I kept a hole for ventilation and got lots of condensation and mould. Since keeping the holes closed Ive had no mould.

Just a pity most crown boards seem to have two elongated holes which provide a mounting facility for porter bee escapes (spit). My crown boards I make from clear polycarbonate and cut one 25mm diameter central hole which is kept covered most of the year but opened for the duration of the feeding period when I sit a round rapid feeder directly over it. I use dedicated rhombus clearer boards when the need arrives.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yep. Same here

 

[F.F.Stung]

Just a pity most crown boards seem to have two elongated holes which provide a mounting facility for porter bee escapes (spit). My crown boards I make from clear polycarbonate and cut one 25mm diameter central hole which is kept covered most of the year but opened for the duration of the feeding period when I sit a round rapid feeder directly over it. I use dedicated rhombus clearer boards when the need arrives.

Porter bee escapes had their faults but I remember when we had nothing else

 

[Paul_Ward1]

Just to clarify (sorry):
I have Abelo poly hive with 4x roof vents, OMF with inspection tray, crown board with a single central mesh vent and a feeder hole:

Close and keep closed all the crownboard and roof vents all year round?
Leave the varroa monitoring board out except when monitoring?
Bees sort out the temperature, humidity and CO2 regulation via the OMF and the entrance?
Is there a situation where the varroa tray should be placed to close the OMF if the temp drops?

Thank you.
Paul (Surrey, UK)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Close and keep closed all the crownboard and roof vents all year round?

yes

Leave the varroa monitoring board out except when monitoring?

yes

Bees sort out the temperature, humidity and CO2 regulation via the OMF and the entrance?

yes

Is there a situation where the varroa tray should be placed to close the OMF if the temp drops?

no

 

[Beth]

Are you saying that the open mesh floor should be open all year? Seems like that would create a massive draft even with the roof vents etc closed.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Are you saying that the open mesh floor should be open all year? Seems like that would create a massive draft even with the roof vents etc closed.

I've never closed mine - even in the higher altitude sites, never had a problem, bees come out in the spring in top form.
the inserts are called inspection boards for a reason, I actually forget where I've put the few I have.