Adrian Quiney WI
04-22-2009, 09:46 PM
Think Bee Gees, or Bees Geez! I would hum this on the way back from my hive after I had seen the confirmatory sign of life, a ridge of frost on the lid that overhangs the upper entrance, which was closed off except for about 2 inches. I thought it might be good to start a thread mentioning winter survival of TBH's in the north. Survival:) or death:cry:stories should be given with your climate zone for comparitive purposes.
My only hive (which is slope-sided) survived, it is on a south-facing moderate slope and is sheltered by about 50 yards of woods on all other sides. It was full most all the way to the back with honey or bees by the start of winter. My bars, 16 inch long, were regular 2 by stock with the edges chamfered off to a v point. So above the comb there was an inch to an inch and a half of wood insulation - the bar itself. On top of that I layed a piece of styrofoam framed in a combination of plywood and shed siding panel. This lid overlapped the front to cover the entrance - a Mr Bush style 3/8 gap at the front of the box. I did not wrap the box at all. This winter we had several days of -20 degrees F. My area averages 163 days a year below freezing.:( and is zone 4.
The queen in there was a daughter of a Minnesota Hygienic queen which swarmed and left me. Adrian
My only hive (which is slope-sided) survived, it is on a south-facing moderate slope and is sheltered by about 50 yards of woods on all other sides. It was full most all the way to the back with honey or bees by the start of winter. My bars, 16 inch long, were regular 2 by stock with the edges chamfered off to a v point. So above the comb there was an inch to an inch and a half of wood insulation - the bar itself. On top of that I layed a piece of styrofoam framed in a combination of plywood and shed siding panel. This lid overlapped the front to cover the entrance - a Mr Bush style 3/8 gap at the front of the box. I did not wrap the box at all. This winter we had several days of -20 degrees F. My area averages 163 days a year below freezing.:( and is zone 4.
The queen in there was a daughter of a Minnesota Hygienic queen which swarmed and left me. Adrian