🐝💗Our Backyard Beekeeping Journey!💗🐝

[drstratton]

I leave top insulation on all year.

Oh, I know people have insulated hives. I would not of thought to have an insulated cover on over the summer. That being said we did put up a canopy and used a fan to help keep things cooler for them. That seemed to help quite a bit. They stopped bearding. I'll have to let my husband know about leaving it in place. It will probably depend on how he sets it up.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Oh, I know people have insulated hives. I would not of thought to have an insulated cover on over the summer. That being said we did put up a canopy and used a fan to help keep things cooler for them. That seemed to help quite a bit. They stopped bearding. I'll have to let my husband know about leaving it in place. It will probably depend on how he sets it up.

Just top insulation. It's easier for them to control temps for brood rearing. Bearding is a good thing, a fan not so much.

 

[drstratton]

Just top insulation. It's easier for them to control temps for brood rearing. Bearding is a good thing, a fan not so much.

The fan blew from behind the hives. We tried it with and without, with really seemed to help. It didn't hinder them at all as we had it set to come on at a specific temp and to just keep the air moving. The fence we have behind the hives really blocks any breeze that might be blowing. I think it was good to have the airflow around the hives.
Our thinking is, if things are cooler for them, they don't have to stop their other work to come out and expend a lot of energy to cool the hive. Our goal was to make things easier and more comfortable for them. It seemed to work really well.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I leave top insulation on all year.

Put the 2" foam on 2 days ago as a precaution for syrup. No real threat as the lowest predicted temp at night is 39F. All 3 hives had an explosion of orientation at the same time of day 2 days ago. Sat and watched them. Half hour and it was all over.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

The fan blew from behind the hives. We tried it with and without, with really seemed to help. It didn't hinder them at all as we had it set to come on at a specific temp and to just keep the air moving. The fence we have behind the hives really blocks any breeze that might be blowing. I think it was good to have the airflow around the hives.
Our thinking is, if things are cooler for them, they don't have to stop their other work to come out and expend a lot of energy to cool the hive. Our goal was to make things easier and more comfortable for them. It seemed to work really well.

Most I do in hot weather is place an 1/8 " shim on the corners of the inner cover under the outer cover, a little more drafting as the bees do their own fanning. Really have had no problems with ants or hive beetles.

 

[drstratton]

Put the 2" foam on 2 days ago as a precaution for syrup. No real threat as the lowest predicted temp at night is 39F. All 3 hives had an explosion of orientation at the same time of day 2 days ago. Sat and watched them. Half hour and it was all over.

New winter bees! I'm really glad to know what that looks like now.

 

[drstratton]

Most I do in hot weather is place an 1/8 " shim on the corners of the inner cover under the outer cover, a little more drafting as the bees do their own fanning. Really have had no problems with ants or hive beetles.

We did that also. As long as the cans on our stands are full of oil and not debris, we don't have issues with ants. Hive beetles can't survive here. I've seen one and that was it. They just die out.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

30F this AM, so much for the low of 39F predicted. High in the 60s today. See how syrup levels are and keep feeding till they leave a good amount left in jars. Not ready for a complete wrap until maybe mid November. Not even thinking about the sugar block feeders yet. Going to pack a pollen patty in the middle this yr. A little incentive to build large numbers for spring splits. Worth a shot. Hives feel good on lifts, lots of bees, fingers crossed.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

We did that also. As long as the cans on our stands are full of oil and not debris, we don't have issues with ants. Hive beetles can't survive here. I've seen one and that was it. They just die out.

Haven't seen any here either. Don't even do traps.