Outside temp, and brood inspection.

[Daisy]

I asked a while back about temperature precautions when inspecting into the brood area and this is what I found...

...going into the brood chamber when it is below 61 degrees will cause chalk brood.

It's brief, all I could find.

Comments?

[denise_ky]

Daisy,
I've never heard that before. And I have to disagree. Chaulk brood, from what I've read is caused by stress. Of course anytime you open a hive it could be stressful to a hive. I've opened my hives plenty of times when the temps are below 65 , even at 50, and have never had chaukbrood. The one time I did have chaulkbrood was my first year of beekeeping. I had stacked haybales right up next to the hive for the winter, on 3 sides, didn't know anything about ventilation and that spring I had chaulkbrood.
Denise

[denise_ky]

Oops! I didn't have my reading glasses on. I now see the temp you posted was 61. But what I said still applies.
D.

[Daisy]

Hi D. I understood this to mean, bringing up brood frames for inspection thereby chilling the brood.

I don't know about outcome.

But I'm still looking for the right answers....

;^) Thanks.

[Daisy]

Denise, I know lots has been written about ventilation. I'm still not clear about this yet.

What do you do for ventilation?

When is having this ventilation most critical, temperature wise and length of this temperature?


Some bees are flying today, bringing in pollens, it's above 47 degrees.

[denise_ky]

<<What do you do for ventilation?>>

Hi Daisy,
This is my first year of using SBB's. I'm hoping , and from what I've heard, they will help a lot with the venitlation. I also crack the inner cover. Or I did. But then I saw the bees were propolizing the crack shut. So I took my rock out and placed it between the inner and outer cover. I also have made sure the hives are tilted forward a bit so any condensation will hopefully run forward to the front of the hive, rather than dropping down on the bees.

<<When is having this ventilation most critical, temperature wise and length of this temperature?>>
Well, that depends....couldn't resist that since Michael is not here this week! ; )
I think the ventilation is most critical in the winter months when the temperatures stay below freezing. At least that's true for my area. On thinking about it, I'd imagine if you were in the south, where it can get very humid in the summer, it would be critical too. But still not as critical as in the winter. I don't know if I answered your questions or not. I'm sure there are others that would love to just jump in here with their two cents worth!

[MountainCamp]

Chalk Brood is caused by a fungus. The fungus that causes chalk brood is help / likes cool damp conditions, poor ventilation in the winter or cold weather stress the bees and promote chalk brood.
Just opening the hive during cold weather will not alone cause chalk brood.
Checking brood and exposing them to cold temperatures can cause chilled brood, which will also stress the hive.