Bill Bartlett wrote:
>
> We talk alot about providing ventilation for our hives.
>
> How do bees living in their most basic habitat, a hollow tree,
>  provide ventilation?  Assuming the hole, oft times small,
> is located in the middle, between the brood area and the honey storage area
> at the top?
 
The other slant that has always interested me is the whole debate about
whether hives should be in full sun or shaded.  When you think about how
the "wild" bees would have there nests, I'm not sure how you draw
parallels from it as bees have used wall cavities for hives (which I
would tend to think stay on the warmer side due to exposure) and also
tree cavities which I'm sure would tend to be cool.  Maybe the placement
of hives has more to do with the beekeepers preference than the bees?
Would a cooler hive require less need for ventilation?
 
I moved a few of my hives last fall into the brush where they are shaded
all the time.  Still have the others out where they will receive full
sun till about 3:00 PM.  One commercial beekeeper in my area keeps a lot
of his hives in small clearings within a grove of trees where they are
shaded all the time when another commercial beekeeper keeps his hives
out in the sun.  Wouldn't this have an effect on ventilation needs?
 
-Barry
 
--
Barry Birkey
West Chicago, Illinois  USA
[log in to unmask]
http://www.birkey.com