It seems summer has not yet arrived and it is already time to prepare for
winter.
I have traditionally wintered in 4 packs with a winter lid with a hole in
the front. This is then wrapped with a blanket of 6 mil poly over R12
fibreglass insulation. The blanket has holes that line up with the holes in
the winter lids. Well.... more or less line up.
I am now using insulated lids and want to incorporate these into my winter
wrap. Besides, my success was not all that great before and it is time to
try a change.
I plan to use auger holes in the end of the upper brood chamber for an upper
entrance so I am faced with two problems.
1. To close up the old hole in the blanket which will now be far too high
for the auger hole. The best idea I have at this point is duct tape.
2. To create a new hole in the right place. I could roll out the blankets
and cut holes with a template but am loath to do this for the extra work it
involves. (Unless I did it in the field?) I need about 400 wraps. This
leaves me with looking for a method to cut this new hole after the blanket
is in place on the hive.
I am soliciting ideas to deal with the two problems above. Any other
observations will also be welcome.
Eric Abell
Gibbons, Alberta Canada
(403) 998 3143
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