When in autumn/winter to insulate?

[SavvySalli]

Hi,

I'm insulating our hive because it's exposed and on the edge of a frost pocket. All I want to know is what criteria people use to decide when (as in season/month) to insulate!

Thank you.
Sarah

 

[Anduril]

Nothing wrong with insulating all year round. You could make a start now.

 

[user 6228]

Hi,

I'm insulating our hive because it's exposed and on the edge of a frost pocket. All I want to know is what criteria people use to decide when (as in season/month) to insulate!

Thank you.
Sarah

asap ... the previous year

From those who just put a slab in the roof to the poly hive brigade the concensus seems to be all year.

There are very good reasons to insulate in summer (what summer? )

After all Honeybees stay inside a tree all year

 

[Millet]

asap ... the previous year

From those who just put a slab in the roof to the poly hive brigade the concensus seems to be all year.

There are very good reasons to insulate in summer (what summer? )

After all Honeybees stay inside a tree all year

It is too much of a faff on leaving the cosey/insulation on all the time, plus when the supers are added we need different size cosey's to fit the hives, i pulled my off after my first inspection in spring and put it back on when i started feeding.

 

[SavvySalli]

Okay, thanks very much. My insulation is really easy to put on and off, however it rather spoils the look of the lovely cedar hive!

 

[Erichalfbee]

My insulation .............rather spoils the look of the lovely cedar hive!

Never mind....take a picture of it and pin it to your fridge to remind you of the hidden beauty

 

[Millet]

Never mind....take a picture of it and pin it to your fridge to remind you of the hidden beauty

I should have done that several years ago and not of a hive.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Never mind, Millet, beauty is only skin deep

 

[victor meldrew]

Kept bees 25 years +, never felt the need for insulation . Cedar hives , I do however put inspection boards in over Winter and have insulation on top of crown boards year round !


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[madasafish]

It is too much of a faff on leaving the cosey/insulation on all the time, plus when the supers are added we need different size cosey's to fit the hives, i pulled my off after my first inspection in spring and put it back on when i started feeding.

My cosies cover 1 super plus one broodbox: so ok for summer and winter. Weight 2kg. Lift off in 20 seconds. All interchangeable.

 

[Millet]

Never mind, Millet, beauty is only skin deep

Never a truer word,

 

[Millet]

..I see good things .

 

[Millet]

My cosies cover 1 super plus one broodbox: so ok for summer and winter. Weight 2kg. Lift off in 20 seconds. All interchangeable.

My cosey this year looks like something/ or someone who is wearing a pair or trouser from the 70's Skinhead (has your Budgie died)half way up the shin springs to mind, that is what happened here, a cosey made for a brood box does not fit to good with two supers stuck on top or underneath/ as eke and super.

 

[Anduril]

My cosey this year looks like something/ or someone who is wearing a pair or trouser from the 70's Skinhead (has your Budgie died)half way up the shin springs to mind, that is what happened here, a cosey made for a brood box does not fit to good with two supers stuck on top or underneath/ as eke and super.

A bit like this chap https://m.youtube.com/?reload=7&rdm=249ffn4bt#/watch?v=BO7pa2mnNSc

 

[Erichalfbee]

My cosey this year looks like something/ or someone who is wearing a pair or trouser from the 70's Skinhead (has your Budgie died)half way up the shin springs to mind, that is what happened here, a cosey made for a brood box does not fit to good with two supers stuck on top or underneath/ as eke and super.

My cosies fit a super and a 14x12....but I take them off in the summer and most of my bees are in poly anyway.
All the hives have cosy roofs that are a super and a half that I use when I'm feeding (super as a feeding eke)
I feel the need to make a cosy for a poly nuc to over winter a cupful or two of bees should the need arise

 

[Millet]

A bit like this chap https://m.youtube.com/?reload=7&rdm=249ffn4bt#/watch?v=BO7pa2mnNSc

The link did not work on my computer.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Full cosies on wood hives
Supers of insulation on poly hives
Taken off in may

 

[Webby]

Made my celotex cosy last night to cover brood box and super. Will be putting it on tonight.

 

[madasafish]

Pictures of mine in camo - sorry - non matching shades of green..

 

[Brigsy]

I've done similar. Just waiting for the silicone to dry on the gaps in the aluminium roofs I had made.