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Date: | Thu, 7 Dec 1995 07:49:42 -0700 |
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> It all started with the suggestion that some winter loss could be
> explained by suffocation -- I would suggest that nobody has actually
> claimed to have had such a loss, if they had it would be worth
> discussing why and how to avoid it.
> We use fairly well sealed hives here to overwinter (mid-Norway)
> with a ventilation opening at the bottom.
Glad to hear from Norway!
Actually, I've never heard of suffocation - except in unusual
circumstances, hence my arguements against it. Maybe I should have
just said so straight out.
Thanks for your comments. I'm very interested in the methods you
use.
I hope this barrage of questions isn't too presumptuous, but I'm sure
many on the the list would love to hear the response. I know I sure
would.
* Do you use any insulation?
* Do winter the hives singly or in groups?
* What type of hives do you use?
* What is miminum acceptable hive weight going into winter?
* What are you minimum and average winter temperatures?
* How long at the lowest temperature? When?
* When is your first frost? Last flow?
* When is your first pollen? Snow melt?
* Typical survival maeasured at May 10th
To answer these myself:
* Yes, R5 to R10 on all sides and R15 to R25 on top
* We place them in tightly into fours - 2 facing east and 2 west
* 2 Langstroth brood chambers with an 1 inch auger hole under
the handhole in each box
* 50 Kilograms including floor and lid and bees
* -40 degrees Celcius and about minus 10 celcius
* For about a week or so, anytime from January through February
* First frost varies from August 20 to October 20. Last flow September
* First reliable pollen is April 15. Snow melts late March storms
and snowfall occasionally until May
* Typical survival 850 per 1000 (useable hives)
Of course, if anyone else would like to jump in here and give the
answers to these questions and/or add questions to the list, I for
one would be delighted.
Regards
Allen
W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK
RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Internet:[log in to unmask]
Honey. Bees, Art, & Futures <http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka>
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