On Thu, 26 Dec 1996 15:07:37 -0700 Jerry J Bromenshenk
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
>Hi:
>
>Moisture is a problem most everywhere.  We notice a big difference
>during the growing season in Seattle, WA or Aberdeen, MD compared to
>western Montana, which is more humid than eastern MT or WA.
>
>In the winter, the inside of the hive can get really wet in the
>coastal
>locations.  But even in Montana, confined hives condense a lot of
>moisture.  Have you ever tried camping overnight in a tent that
>doesn't
>"breathe?".
>
>We generally use some type of inner cover or top entrance to provide
>some
>head room and a bit of ventilation.  We narrow down the bottom
>entrances
>to keep out mice and stop the wind.
>.
>One of our problems is wind.  A stiff breeze causes a wind chill that
>even
>the bees have trouble handling, so we try to avoid the chimney effect.
> A
>bit of dark roofing felt around the hive or at least on top may help
>warm
>the inside a bit on sunny days (a rarity in Missoula in the winter).
>This
>could be wishful thinking, but most of our beekeepers think it helps
>the
>cluster break and move on a sunny day.
>
>Very few of our folks use insulation under the cover.  Years ago, some
>packed in straw but found that during the January thaw and February
>freeze
>cycle, the straw turned into a block of ice.
>
>We do pull our hives together so that one shields the other from the
>wind.
>Often the whole group gets a single wrap - but not too tight or the
>moisture builds up too much.
>
>Where we get lots of snow, the hives are buried most of the winter.  I
>wonder whether insulation does any good for hives packed in nature's
>igloo.
>
>Maybe Allen can tell us if anyone has ever measured core temperatures
>in
>colonies with and without the insulating pillows?
>
>Anyway, white Christmas in Missoula.  We had 28" since Thanksgiving,
>got
>14" over Christmas day, and it is still coming down.  Cross-country
>skiers
>and folks with sleds out all over town and on the campus.  Just saw a
>family ski by my office window.  Mild temperatures (about 10 degrees
>F).
>Highways and main streets have had at least a single pass with the
>snowplow.  On the side streets, you had better be driving something
>with
>ground clearance.
>
>Despite commonly held opinions, this is a bit more snow than we
>usually
>get in Western Montana.  Fairly common in central or eastern parts of
>the
>state.  Hardly worth comment by our northern friends.
>
>Best Wishes for the Holidays and New Year.
>
>Jerry Bromenshenk
>The University of Montana-Missoula
>[log in to unmask]
>http://grizzly.umt.edu/biology/bees
>
        Just  a little support to what Jerry has already said.
  *Moisture*   A number of us here in the North East use a Cellotex
(trade name) material. It is a very light and absorbant material. It is
known as sound board to many in the constructiuon business. 4' x 8'
sheets are cut the size of the inner cover and a couple thin strips of
wood (I use discarded frame wedges) are glued and stapled to a couple
edges on one side and another through the middle on the other side. This
third one can be omitted if your queen excluders live with the hive all
year round as mine do (on top of the inner cover after honey removal).
The two strips are spacers for the outer cover to set on and the single
strip prevents the mateerial from sagging and blocking the inner cover
hole. With this type of absorbent / breathing insulating cover it is not
necessary to provide any more of  a ventilation / upper entrance larger
than the conventional inner cover hole. There may be superior cover
insulators but these have served me well for twenty years. I have on a
number of occasions opened hives in below freezing temperatures
(preferably no wind, I use bees year round for apitherapy purposes) and
found soggy insulators but dry inner covers and bees. I have also seen
bees clustered on the wet surface taking up moisture. Remember bees need
moisture but not dripping on them.
        Does anyone with more than 50 colonies still haul queen excluders
to and from the apiaries? Why? I hope not because Mary does. Try  (what I
believe to be ) the easier alternative, staying with the hive. I choose
to carry a few extras with me to swap out any heavily burred or
propolized to be put in the solar melter and cycled where and when
needed.
        I enjoy many of the comment shared on this net, would like to
hear more from our friends in other countries.
 
Alden Marshall [B-Line Apiaries]