I got a few questions asking why I would install rain protection for my hives. Well, it rains a lot here. We basically live in a perpetual state of wetness for about 6 months. So anything I can do to reduce water in and on the hives might help with overwintering.
Video Link
Monday, October 27, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
Hive Entrance Follow-up - Bee Vlog - Oct 18, 2014
I'm really liking the alternative entrances I've been adding to the beehives this year, and it looks like the bees like them as well. The 1" holes seem to give plenty of room for bees to come and go, even in heavy traffic, but remain easy to guard. I'm going to be modifying more hives next year to use this same method.
But there's still more to be learned from this design. This year it's only been used on 1st year hives that are still relatively small. I don't know what to expect on larger hives and during a major nectar flow. I'm interested to see if holes in every box have an effect on how the bees organize the interior of the hive. So those are some of the observations to be made next year.
Video Link
If you want to re-watch or catch how this started, here's the start of the modified hive entrance experiment.
But there's still more to be learned from this design. This year it's only been used on 1st year hives that are still relatively small. I don't know what to expect on larger hives and during a major nectar flow. I'm interested to see if holes in every box have an effect on how the bees organize the interior of the hive. So those are some of the observations to be made next year.
Video Link
If you want to re-watch or catch how this started, here's the start of the modified hive entrance experiment.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Rain Protection - Bee Vlog - Oct 11, 2014
In an effort to reduce the amount of water in and on the hives this winter, I'm installing a roof over all the hives. It's kind of a small roof. I wish it were a little bigger. But I think it will still be an important addition. Especially for the nucleus hives that don't get much rain protection from the lid.
Pipe performance by my son, David.
Musical selections are (in order):
Seonaidh's Tune
Craig-a-Bodich
A Cup of Tea
All Tied Up
Video Link
Pipe performance by my son, David.
Musical selections are (in order):
Seonaidh's Tune
Craig-a-Bodich
A Cup of Tea
All Tied Up
Video Link
Monday, October 6, 2014
Winterizing Beehives - Bee Vlog - Oct 4, 2014
In my area moisture is the big winter killer. So to prepare the hives and help reduce condensation I'm adding quilt boxes (aka quilts, moisture box, moisture quilt) and tipping the hives. The quilts will help to absorb water and keep the ceiling warm. Tipping the hives will allow any condensation to run down the inner walls instead of dripping on to the bees.
Building the quilt boxes
Queen Helen mite counts
Video Link
Building the quilt boxes
Queen Helen mite counts
Video Link
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)