Maine_Beekeeper
01-14-2008, 05:41 PM
My new observation hive has been burning a hole in my pocket since November, when my husband built it.
I have had a small (late) colony out in the yard this winter and have been worrying and fussing about them since the weather turned cold.
Finally after checking the insert on the SBB and finding lots of mouse debris (UGH - I should have installed mouse guards) I decided to bring them in.
Yesterday it was about 40 degrees here, probably for the last time until March, or at least for a while so I went out and got them. They had ok stores but not probably not enough to make it through winter - the colony was only in two mediums and not "ganged up" with any other colonies.
Here is a photobucket album of them now in our living room.
http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j37/Maine_Beekeeper/New%20Observation%20Hive/
A couple of notes:
They are my second OB hive and I've learned a bit from the first, mostly about having a tight house and a woodstove and an OB hive. With the woodstove on, it seeks "make-up" air and can create a huge draft through the hive which must be mitigated, or you simply create a wind tunnel of cold air pulling in from the outside to make-up the air. The first OB hive is upstairs and a little less prone to this effect, but it needs to be watched. I have "dampers" on the vent holes to reduce the draft, also I keep the hive pretty tightly wrapped with the covering blanket. (I need to get a better blanket for this hive - I'm looking for an old fashioned "scratchy wool blanket.")
I included a couple of photos with our dogs, (they're Newfoundlands - 145 and 165 lbs - we call them Land Manatees). Must keep their wagging tails away from the hive as well.
When I moved the bees they were fairly disorganized and there is actually a tiny patch of brood under the bees in the photo "cluster - brood patch about the size of a silver dollar. Now the bees are covering it so it can't be seen.
I know I brought the queen in (thank goodness for marking queens - you want to move FAST at 40 degrees) but I haven't seen her since the hive settled in yesterday afternoon - it is two frames deep and I suspect she has moved to the center.
There is a place for the feeder at the top (see the circular wooden "cap) - for now I don't have anything in place as they have plenty of stores - I have learned from my other OB hive how long stores will last (especially when the bees aren't flying but also require little energy to keep warm!)
I posted detailed photos of the hive when first built back in November - I believe they are on my main photobucket. Take a look there if you are looking for construction ideas.
I'm trying hard not to disturb them too much, but it is sorely tempting to just "peek in" on them constantly.
Still looking forward to spring....
-E.
I have had a small (late) colony out in the yard this winter and have been worrying and fussing about them since the weather turned cold.
Finally after checking the insert on the SBB and finding lots of mouse debris (UGH - I should have installed mouse guards) I decided to bring them in.
Yesterday it was about 40 degrees here, probably for the last time until March, or at least for a while so I went out and got them. They had ok stores but not probably not enough to make it through winter - the colony was only in two mediums and not "ganged up" with any other colonies.
Here is a photobucket album of them now in our living room.
http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j37/Maine_Beekeeper/New%20Observation%20Hive/
A couple of notes:
They are my second OB hive and I've learned a bit from the first, mostly about having a tight house and a woodstove and an OB hive. With the woodstove on, it seeks "make-up" air and can create a huge draft through the hive which must be mitigated, or you simply create a wind tunnel of cold air pulling in from the outside to make-up the air. The first OB hive is upstairs and a little less prone to this effect, but it needs to be watched. I have "dampers" on the vent holes to reduce the draft, also I keep the hive pretty tightly wrapped with the covering blanket. (I need to get a better blanket for this hive - I'm looking for an old fashioned "scratchy wool blanket.")
I included a couple of photos with our dogs, (they're Newfoundlands - 145 and 165 lbs - we call them Land Manatees). Must keep their wagging tails away from the hive as well.
When I moved the bees they were fairly disorganized and there is actually a tiny patch of brood under the bees in the photo "cluster - brood patch about the size of a silver dollar. Now the bees are covering it so it can't be seen.
I know I brought the queen in (thank goodness for marking queens - you want to move FAST at 40 degrees) but I haven't seen her since the hive settled in yesterday afternoon - it is two frames deep and I suspect she has moved to the center.
There is a place for the feeder at the top (see the circular wooden "cap) - for now I don't have anything in place as they have plenty of stores - I have learned from my other OB hive how long stores will last (especially when the bees aren't flying but also require little energy to keep warm!)
I posted detailed photos of the hive when first built back in November - I believe they are on my main photobucket. Take a look there if you are looking for construction ideas.
I'm trying hard not to disturb them too much, but it is sorely tempting to just "peek in" on them constantly.
Still looking forward to spring....
-E.