overwintering in NY with migratory covers?

[justgojumpit]

I've been building a good bit of new equipment for my apiary as well as others, and I figured I would ask around to see if any beekeepers in northern climates were overwintering their bees in migratory covers. I would probably end up putting an inner cover under the migratory cover so I can put some sugar in there, but it would not have the telescoping sides. Has anyone tried this? I figured before I built a whole bunch of covers, I should see if this would not be detrimental to overwintering rates first!

justgojumpit

[jeff123fish]

I have seen folks do it with nucs but not with full hives yet. thats not to say it wouldn't work just I haven't seen it.

[Jeffzhear]

I tried it and it didn't work for me. Way too many moisture issues. I set up the hives with an inner cover with vent notch, a 4 inch sleeve above the inner cover with newspaper and insulation and then the migratory cover....I quickly moved back to telescoping covers before I had a real problem. The telescoping covers really keep moisture out of my hives. Now, for the record, I am in an area that gets much rain and much snow, more than other areas of the state.

[alpha6]

5 1/2 of snow on the ground and they are doing fine with migratory covers...just make sure it covers the whole top and no gaps for snow or water to get in.

[mwjohnson]

Jumpit
I'm in the northern edge of the Catskills, before it drops off into the Hudson.

I use an inner cover with a 3/8" X 1 & 1/2" or so notch in the lower side.
Then a piece of 3/4" or 1/2" CDX plywood, that overhangs about 2" all around, get's propped up about 1/4 to 3/8" on both front corners, with whatevers handy (like a couple twigs, or some ripped scraps of wood) for the cover.
A scrap of butyl pond liner droops down over the plywood.
Need to use 4 bricks, one per corner.

Not pretty. Price is right.

I notice when it's real cold that whole crack above the inner cover is frosted shut, and that seems good.

I keep thinking I'm gonna build some telescoping covers because eveyone say's you need them, but I think a nice sheltered location is way more important than the kind of top you have.

I get ribbed a lot from my friends....

But the bees looked good last week...

10% winterkill last year.

[mwjohnson]

Re read your post, so I'd like to add this.
My inner covers have a thicker top edge...or rim...about a 1/2"...to put sugar on if you think you must.
I really made them that way so I could turn them over to make a little more room for introducing a caged queen or for pollen patties or so the gallon pickle jar will fit.

Mark

[justgojumpit]

Thanks for the replies,

I figured the sides of the telescoping cover really didn't matter that well, as long as the hive was protected from snow and rain. I mainly put the sugar on the inner cover to take up moisture... my bees have rarely touched it because they always had enough honey stored. I just mix it with water in the spring for stimulative feeding.

justgojumpit

[Joel]

We have done it both ways over the years. Your losses with migratory covers will be notably higher that with an inner cover and and telescoping lid. We do winter our southbound bees until the end of Dec./Beginning of Jan in the north with Migratory lids but anything that's staying gets switched.

[justgojumpit]

Joel, I was planning on an inner cover AND a migratory cover, not just a migratory cover. I'm just wondering as to the importance of the trim on the telescoping covers.

justgojumpit

[uncletom]

I've never tried the migratory covers, but it would seem too me that if you were wrapping your hives for winter that they would be ok.

How many of you fellow new yorkers here do wrap your hives? Some times I do, sometimes I dont. My losses dont seem to be a wrap no wrap issue.

I like the idea of the oversized plywood, might try that this summer.