Winter

[Paulf]

Thymolised syrup. I read the thread seems a little complicated. Easy explanation please

 

[madasafish]

Thymolised syrup. I read the thread seems a little complicated. Easy explanation please

Prevents the build up of nosema in a hive over winter.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Thymolised syrup. I read the thread seems a little complicated. Easy explanation please

Try this http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=49691&postcount=44

 

[drstitson]

and prevents the syrup fermenting.

 

[Paulf]

Where do you get it please.

 

[Rosti]

Would agree with Davelin. Fondant cheaper than a new colony, but it's presence does protect as more than just a food source IMO.
I autumn treat and feed as normal but then always throw on a 2Kg fondant block in an upturned plastic container on each (mid/late Oct), in an edge insulated feeding eke, 50mm Kingspan tops it off.
The fondant acts as a reserve but also naturally centres the colony, if it gets tight then not only have they got the fondant above but they can move in any direction for more stores. Easy to monitor fondant use through the clear plastic container. Don't then touch until the Boxing Day oxalic acid treatment. Generally remove 50% unused fondant from hives and melt for use as spring syrup. Works for me, zero losses in last 2 years since I adopted this policy.

 

[drstitson]

"Where do you get it please."

thymol available from all the usual suspects.
recipe elsewhere on here.

 

[Luminos]

I got thymol crystals by post from Maizemores if that's any help

 

[madasafish]

I got thymol from Fragile Planet 2 years ago. Still using it.

Recipe as per..Hivemaker

 

[user 6228]

derekm (and anyone else) don't want to hijack but it's right on topic. I'm designing my winter setup and invested in a poly brood box. Going to make up a clear crownboard, then a layer of Kingspan if I can skip-dive some (Well done MuswellMetro! The joys of London beekeeping). For feeding I'm going to cut a feeder-sized hole and build a box to cover the feeder in the eke when it's on in cold weather. (The alternative is a full poly hive.) 2 questions. 1) Approve? and 2) How do you ventilate through Kingspan or do you just rely on OMF ventilation?

You need an air tight seal between the insulating walls and the insulating roof. the uk building regs say so, the bees say so, the laws of heat and mass transfer say so. Bees already have behaviours to ventilate through the entrance. these behaviours are quite compex why mess with them unless you have really good scientific evidence.
My stuff might look strange but it just trying to put the bees measurablly nearer their original habitiat interms of heat loss and air flow.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Well actually building regs call for trickle ventilation IIRC but the basic point about through draughts is well taken and if humans were on OMFs no doubt the trickle vents could be dispensed with.

Based on the "too late for brood-and-a-half" thread, and the rate at which pollen is going in, I think I'm actually going to have my existing cedar brood box below the poly box with any luck. Heck:at this rate I'LL want to winter there.

 

[pargyle]

My stuff might look strange but it just trying to put the bees measurablly nearer their original habitiat interms of heat loss and air flow.

Nowt wrong wi looks strange ...

 

[user 6228]

Well actually building regs call for trickle ventilation IIRC but the basic point about through draughts is well taken and if humans were on OMFs no doubt the trickle vents could be dispensed with.

Based on the "too late for brood-and-a-half" thread, and the rate at which pollen is going in, I think I'm actually going to have my existing cedar brood box below the poly box with any luck. Heck:at this rate I'LL want to winter there.

if the front door is left open and all the room doors taken off... you certainly wouldnt need trickle vents.

 

[Finman]

if the front door is left open and all the room doors taken off... you certainly wouldnt need trickle vents.

Physical fact: small holes drafting and big holes wind blowing.