On 26 Feb 98 at 17:38, Lloyd Spear wrote:
 
> Your method certainly sounds like it worked well.  I don't know
> where in Ontario you are, but unless you are near Lake Erie your
<snip>
> the differences in our methods for those who want to try either, or
<snip>
>  I also use five frames in each nuc.  Over the top of all 10 frames
> is a piece of burlap (untreated).  This molds to the tops of the
<snip>
> all nucs were plugged out with stores.  Then I put each "hive" (2
> nucs) on top of a regular hive, removing the inner cover and outer
> cover from the regular hive.  I used 3/4" fiberboard for the bottoms
> of the nucs, so that becomes the tops of the regular hives.
> Undoubtedly, some heat from the regular hive goes through the
> fiberboard to the nucs.  (Each regular hive has a top auger hole for
<snip>
> as cold as he is, and this winter was quite warm, but the five
> frames were clearly sufficient.  My guess is that because the frames
> get plugged early, the bees go into the winter with a very small
 
If I may make one or two observations. While Lloyd's methods are
similar there are some points completely opposite.
        We winter most of our hives in 3 deeps, now add 2 more for the nucs
and you'd need a ladder to service them. Our new idea is a free
standing two boxer that can be handled easily.
        Using burlap as an inner cover was rejected. Two major reasons. It
drops down onto the top bars and effectively seals off the top
entrance. Secondly the bees tend to propolis the burlap preventing
upward ventilation, which we find is essential. For example, when
setting these out in the fall we only had available ventilated roofs
for 4 out of the 5 we were working on. On opening the un-ventilated
one a few days later the roof above the inner cover was dripping wet.
        From the description it sounds as if Lloyds bottom boards of the
nucs are solid fiber board, in which case there would be no heat
transmission upwards from the lower unit.
        It has been suggested that I have a "bee in my bonnet" regarding
ventilation of hives. Maybe so, all I do know, since I introduced
ventilated tops our hives are mould free and dryer.
 
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