Northern Winter Moisture Management Prep

[edenhillapiaries]

Hello All,

This is my first year beekeeping and I want to do what I can to improve my over-wintering success. Instead of wrapping the hives, which seems to have fallen out of favor, I want to take a look at using some sort of moisture absorbent above the hive. One idea was to put an empty medium above the brood chambers and fill it with straw, etc. I had thought about using an inner cover with a hole and screen over it to keep the bees out of the straw. This will also provide a top entrance (some hives already have them, some don't).

I do not have enough inner covers for all the hives (I use migratory covers) so I thought about using burlap or screen mesh to keep the bees out of the top. The second idea was to put newspaper topped with a bag of granulated sugar directly on the top bars and then add the medium super. I have seen this approach written about and I like the sound of it. Apparently the sugar will not only serve as food, but will also absorb excess moisture like the straw in the other plan.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these strategies? Are there any other ideas that will work better. Our winters in Northern Michigan can bee long and harsh.

Thanks in advance.

[dickm]

Cut a piece of Homasote (Insulite) board the size of an inner cover. Put the hole in the same place. Place an Imirie shim above this for an upper entrance. Pour a few pounds of sugar on top of your Homasote, being careful to leave a path to the entrance.

I also use a hive-top feeder above this structure to let more air up.

It works for me in CT.

dickm

[Dan Williamson]

Why use something to absorb it? Why not just let it escape with an upper entrance?

[Michael Palmer]

Why use something to absorb it? Why not just let it escape with an upper entrance?

Here, here.

[Ian]

I agree, vent it out. Its the best way to manage moisture problems in cold temps.
But if your looking for something to use, I would use bat insulation. Dont use straw. Straw might seem neat and pleasent, but it doesnt work. At least the bat insulation will provide you with an R value and will wick the moisture away. Cheap and expendable!
Not only will it absorb the insulation, but it will stop the condensing on the lid top while holding the heat from escaping,

[chimneysweep]

I have used a straw filled deep with a screen bottom on top of several of my hives. Then I prop up the cover that goes on top of the straw filled deep just enough to allow for some air flow. My theory is that the straw is porous enough to allow slow air circulation to help remove moisture and still provide for some insulation. I can't say if it really does what I hope it should, but I will be doing it again this winter on most of my ten hives.

One other thing that I have tried that I am pretty sure is a help is to use a screen insert above the bottom board. The ones that I use are Mann Lake's WW-680 varroa screen traps. During the winter quite a few bees will die and fall to the bottom board. Because of moisture in the hive, there is always some water that gets to the bottom board and makes a wet mass of dead bees. Much of this moisture dries out, but in the corners of the bottom board it does not always dry out that well. In the spring I often scrape wet clumps of dead bees from the corners of the bottom boards.
This is where the screen insert helps. All the dead bees are suspended on the screen a little above the bottom board, but the water can go all the way to the bottom. This way the dead bees dry out much better and when the bees do spring cleaning, they can remove all the dead bees because they are not clumped together in a wet mass.

[edenhillapiaries]

Thanks for the replies! Would an entrance hole drilled in the upper super be enough, or is there a better way to vent the top?

Thanks in advance.

[riverrat]

mountain camp here on the source had several post last fall that mentioned dry sugar placed on newspaper on the top bars. it served 2 purposes one feed and 2 to absorb moisture. I didnt personally try it but someone who has might chime in. I havent seen MC post lately not sure where he's at maybe still in the bee yard. you might shoot him a PM

[dug_6238]

This method does have merit:

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215191&highlight=MountainCamp+Method

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216753&highlight=MountainCamp+Method

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215574&highlight=MountainCamp+Method

My results were favorable. I will defintely use this approach in the future in situations that warrant its use. I'd give it high ratings. Lots of reading there, and lots of other opinions. You need to use it where it's relevant, and use it correctly. Those who misuse or incorrectly implement the technique, well...it won't help them.

Best of luck, ask if you have questions and we'll gladly help if we can.

[peggjam]

Another winter prep you should think about is putting on mouse guards. Nothing worse than finding mice inside your hives. They make a flipping mess:(.

[mlewis48]

I used the sugar method last winter on 9 hives and they all came out alive and well when Spring came around. It worked well by absorbing moisture and added some needed food for them. I used a 3" shim that set on top of the hive with a 3/4" hole in it for the moisture to escape. I strongly suggest that you use mouse guards. Good luck and lets hope that Winter comes and goes fast.

[Jeffzhear]

Why use something to absorb it? Why not just let it escape with an upper entrance?

Dan and others, what size upper entrance do you use and where; in the inner cover? Just curious, vecause I have various set-ups and am wondering if one is better than another.

In any regard, I had wonderful success with my hives this year and all had an upper entrance in the inner cover.

[Michael Palmer]

3/8x2 in the inner cover rim

[Jeffzhear]

3/8x2 in the inner cover rim

Michael, TY

I will be opening up my vent holes some. I have many inside covers with half moon (3/4") openings. I've always thought they might not offer enough ventilation. This past year I cut-in 3/8ths x 2" in the new inner covers I built for NUCs. I'll start to rotate covers on my 10 frame equipment to get them all uniform. Thanks for responding.