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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
"Timothy C. Eisele" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 16 Aug 2001 16:35:30 -0400
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On Thu, Aug 16, 2001 at 09:32:39AM -0400, Kyle Lewis wrote:
> To Cold Climate Beekeepers,
> Question:  Do any of you have experience with insulating hives?  I have
> read Allen's excellent description, and I would like to hear from others
> who have real experience.  In addition to insulating methods, please tell
> me what breed of bee you use, how much stores the bees need, and what your
> winter losses are.
>

(note: I only have 4 hives, and this coming winter is only my third with
bees, so take my comments for what they are worth.  I am in the northern
peninsula of Michigan, next to Lake Superior, so it never gets really
warm and winter lasts almost 6 months)

I have been wrapping with a single layer of tarpaper, with two pieces of
styrofoam on top of the inner cover (the first piece of styrofoam has a
slot cut in it that runs to the hole in the inner cover, to provide an
upper entrance and ventilation).  I also put a slanting board over the
lower entrance, so that the bees can still get in and out but the
entrance is shielded from snow (I do this because we routinely get
over 150 inches of snow every winter, and without the board over the
entrance it gets clogged with ice).

I have tried to make sure that they have the equivalent of 3 medium
boxes of honey going into the winter, and they have always finished with
honey to spare.

I started with Italians, but have just finished switching over to
New World Carniolans (queens from Heitkam's Honey Bees, in California).
Last winter, I had two Italian hives and two NWC hives, and both of
the Italians died while both of the NWCs came through in good shape.

The two Italian hives last winter were my only winter losses so far.

--
Tim Eisele
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