On 23-Dec-12, at 9:05 AM, allen wrote:

>
> For outdoors, the main thing to know, other than to have an open
> upper entrance and no other cracks above the floor is that the
> insulation placed on top of the hive for outdoor wintering in the
> north is very important, even though there is an open top entrance,
> and should be R10 or more.  The side insulation is less essential,
> but a wind barrier and dark colour assist in moderating the
> temperatures inside.
>

Hi All

I live in balmy southern Ontario in a deep valley which almost
eliminates the wind.  Our local Beek Assoc has arranged to have slip
on coreplast(plastic signboard) winter covers made to order in
several sizes;  single, double, double width double(for 2 hives side
by side), and 4 on a skid.  With 2" SM styrofoam fitted tight onto
the inner cover and an upper entrance, i find that the moisture
condenses(and freezes) on the inside of the plastic sleeve not in the
hive.  When the sun hits the black plastic coreplast the ice melts
and runs to the ground.  I use a double sleeve for my singles,
allowing the sleeve to drop to the hive stand(my bottom boards are
flush with the front of the hive), and still have a space above the
styrofoam.

I don't like fiberglass insulation, straw, wood shavings etc as they
all hold the moisture in or on top of the hive and make attractive
nest sites for mice.

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm