The Honey Factory

[drstratton]

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

It was brought to my attention that the relative who keeps bees doesn’t put an insulation cover on their hives. Any recommendations/things to watch out for when picking out covers?

 

[R2elk]

It was brought to my attention that the relative who keeps bees doesn’t put an insulation cover on their hives. Any recommendations/things to watch out for when picking out covers?

Depends on the location, southern areas should not need an insulation cover. I ran my hives here in Wyoming for many years without an insulating cover.

When I lived in SW PA, I never used an insulating cover.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Depends on the location, southern areas should not need an insulation cover. I ran my hives here in Wyoming for many years without an insulating cover.

When I lived in SW PA, I never used an insulating cover.

Their location gets below freezing in the winter, fair amounts of snow and occasional single digits.

 

[R2elk]

Their location gets below freezing in the winter, fair amounts of snow and occasional single digits.

Single digits are fine. Those are similar temps to what I saw in SW PA. Snow is actually a good insulator.

The reason I started using an insulated cover here is because the temperature can get as low as -40⁰F. Normal winter temps get to -30⁰F.

 

[Apis mellifera]

It was brought to my attention that the relative who keeps bees doesn’t put an insulation cover on their hives. Any recommendations/things to watch out for when picking out covers?

I keep an inch of ridged insulation on top year round. In the summer it helps them maintain temperature. The sun beating down on a metal top gets very hot. In the winter here with below zero temps it controls where condensation forms. The hive ceiling stays warmer than the hive walls that I don't insulate. This way condensation forms on the walls providing water for the bees and not dripping on the cluster.

 

[R2elk]

Merry Christmas!!!



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