Winter insulation?

[sharonh]

That 10C is nearly their choma temperature.

Without brood bee cluster has about 23C temp inside the cluster.

Note that cluster has slices between combs.

In February colony starts to rear some brood and it rises its core temp.

http://jeb.biologists.org/content/206/2/353.full.pdf

.



?

Winter temperatures are well documented in reseaches which you find from internet.
Ordinary beekeepers may write what ever. Look for university papers.

- in well insulated hive heat loss is smaller than in poor insulated.
Bees have their thermoste in cluster.

- in poor insulated box (cold house ) bees must work more to produce heat.

- not only poor isulation but empty space takes much heat

- bees consume more in cold hive than in warm hive....even if many says controversy

- cold does not kill bees but moisture kills ....= pure nonsense.
Treat the hive so that neither will happen.

Thanks Finman,

Your post makes a lot of sense to me. I would prefer to treat my hive that neither will happen.
Thanks again
Sharon

 

[sharonh]

That 10C is nearly their choma temperature.

Without brood bee cluster has about 23C temp inside the cluster.

Note that cluster has slices between combs.

In February colony starts to rear some brood and it rises its core temp.

http://jeb.biologists.org/content/206/2/353.full.pdf

.



?

Winter temperatures are well documented in reseaches which you find from internet.
Ordinary beekeepers may write what ever. Look for university papers.

- in well insulated hive heat loss is smaller than in poor insulated.
Bees have their thermoste in cluster.

- in poor insulated box (cold house ) bees must work more to produce heat.

- not only poor isulation but empty space takes much heat

- bees consume more in cold hive than in warm hive....even if many says controversy

- cold does not kill bees but moisture kills ....= pure nonsense.
Treat the hive so that neither will happen.

Thanks Finman,

Your post makes a lot of sense to me. I would prefer to treat my hive that neither will happen as you said.
Thanks again
Sharon

 

[Dishmop]

Anybody ever given thought to using hot water tank jackets to insulate the exterior of a hive?

 

[sharonh]

Anybody ever given thought to using hot water tank jackets to insulate the exterior of a hive?

No, never thought of that , or heard of anyone doing that.
I have never insulated the exterior,only the roof.

 

[madasafish]

Anybody ever given thought to using hot water tank jackets to insulate the exterior of a hive?

That is a very seriously good suggestion : Canadian keepers in severe conditions do something similar. http://countryfields.ca/images/pricelist/beecozy.jpg

See http://countryfields.ca/beeyard.html#beecozy

But hot water jacket insulation is likely to collect moisture and make things worse unless you choose very carefully.

Edit

You can buy one in the UK: http://beecosy.com/purchase/

(at that price!!!!!!)

Site has lots of interesting articles
http://beecosy.com/why-insulate/

 

[pargyle]

That is a very seriously good suggestion : Canadian keepers in severe conditions do something similar.
But hot water jacket insulation is likely to collect moisture and make things worse unless you choose very carefully.
QUOTE]

B & Q sell those plastic quilted ones that have the insulation sealed in ...

http://www.diy.com/nav/build/insula...Jacket-Rectangular-118L-9273782?skuId=9283482

Would probably deter the antics of woodpeckers as well ..

Cheaper than the 'beekeeping' alternative !

 

[user 6228]

That is a very seriously good suggestion : Canadian keepers in severe conditions do something similar. http://countryfields.ca/images/pricelist/beecozy.jpg

See http://countryfields.ca/beeyard.html#beecozy

But hot water jacket insulation is likely to collect moisture and make things worse unless you choose very carefully.

Edit

You can buy one in the UK: http://beecosy.com/purchase/

(at that price!!!!!!)

Site has lots of interesting articles
http://beecosy.com/why-insulate/

The stated performance "It is has been proven to raise ambient hive temperature by 2C to 4C (4F to 8F) depending on weather conditions. " in IMO is insufficient. The difference between a poly and wood is more like 10C.

However to make a proper comparison I would need to test one in my "lab"

 

[Dishmop]

B & Q sell those plastic quilted ones that have the insulation sealed in ...

I was actually looking at them yesterday which is why I asked.

Old persons discount day and all that.. Got £1+ off my paving stones.
Will have a proper look next time I am there to see if they are water resistant.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

However to make a proper comparison I would need to test one in my "lab"

 

[user 6228]

well it sounds better than saying "living/dining room"
I think i'll have to get the two warres and two langstroths out first.

 

[Dishmop]

I was actually looking at them yesterday which is why I asked.

Will have a proper look next time I am there to see if they are water resistant.

and if they're any good I'll buy loads and sell them on ebay as hive insulation jackets for 6 times the price.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

and if they're any good I'll buy loads and sell them on ebay as hive insulation jackets for 6 times the price.

Just give them a nice twee name like hive snuggle, bee duvet or something and the mugs will be throwing themselves at you with bunches of twenties clutched in their hands

 

[Dishmop]

I have never insulated the exterior,only the roof.

Last year I pinned some bits of thick plastic ex caravan awning ground sheet on the roofs. Plently of overhang so that rain dripped well away from sides of hives.
I have pointy roofs on my hives so rain doesnt collect on them anyway, but cant see how fence paint that can be washed off a brush ( and the floor) with water cannot to some extent be washed off wood.

 

[sharonh]

Thanks everyone for your in-put and pictures. Found all very interesting.

Both hive and nuc are fed and insulated. Finished insulation yesterday ,and installed before first frost being last night.

Next job mouse guards,
Sharon

 

[MuswellMetro]

This suggestion is incorrect. It stems from a logical fallacy from a misinterpretation of some research.

having seen how much stores are left in spring in 14x12 polyhives compared to uninsulated 14x12 cedar hives i agree

 

[user 6228]

having seen how much stores are left in spring in 14x12 polyhives compared to uninsulated 14x12 cedar hives i agree

I get to argue this one at every talk.
Answering this and the other classics usually adds an entertaining hour on to the questions
btw This misunderstanding is also why Canadian Beekeepers go to a lot of expense to refridgerate bees down to 5c instead of insulating them.

 

[philipm]

Made a hive cosy last winter it worked well ,I'll be making more for the rest of my hives this year. Only one thing the cosy and hive needs strapping because with the gales we get the cosy can get blown off. I made sure that it was a loose fit for ease of removal.

 

[Ely]

Made a hive cosy last winter it worked well ,I'll be making more for the rest of my hives this year. Only one thing the cosy and hive needs strapping because with the gales we get the cosy can get blown off. I made sure that it was a loose fit for ease of removal.

Will it be effective being a loose fit?

 

[thenovice]

is this celotex "waterproof"? I mean, does it suck up water and does it loose its insulating properties when exposed to rain?

 

[madasafish]

is this celotex "waterproof"? I mean, does it suck up water and does it loose its insulating properties when exposed to rain?

No

I paint it...