Beekeeping

[RobertEH]

Lost 2 of my three hives over the winter. One was super wet inside. We had a very odd winer with a few days that jumped up into the 50's with such high humidity that the walls of the house were wet under the breezeway. I added candy boards this year and I am wondering if they blocked moisture flowing up to the quiltbox. The shavings were bone dry.

On the good side, the surviving hive is super active.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Our hives have 1.5" of insulation in the walls, on three sides of the nest, 4" above the nest, and one cold wall. This forces all moisture to condense on a cold wall, and not over the bees, thus freezing them. We can get puddles of water in the bottom of the hive, but it never falls on the bees.
We have only ever lost one colony over winter, and it didn't die until the first week of March due to starvation. We didn't harvest from them the year prior, but they had 15 pounds of honey for winter. Good riddance to a weak colony of bees. Ours all came through with about 15-20 pounds of honey left this spring.

 

[RobertEH]

I covered all 6 sides of the hive with 2 inch foam. Having a cold wall to attract condensation is an interesting idea. How cold does it get in your part of Indiana?

Had air holes at the top and a side and bottom entrance for ventelation. I also had a quilt box on top with a candy board below that with 15lbs of sugar. Also a super full of honey in each hive.

so from bottom to top:
-2 inch foam
-bottom board
-deep brood box
-honey super
-candy board
-quilt box
-inner cover
-2 inch foam


One interesting behavior I noted: the bees had uncapped about 50% of the honey, but not used it. That seemed odd. The other hive that perished was dryer, but all the honey was capped unless they had consumed it.

Everything was wet inside and I found the queen on top of the candy board.

I am guessing I did not have adequate ventilation in place for them, and the moisture just built up and overwhelmed them. I am wondering if the sugar board hindered air flow. I had holes in the middle of the board and in each corner. Also an exit.

Here are the hives as seen in the fall

Here are the candy boards - the 3 inch pipe in the middle gets pulled out once the sugar hardens.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

The nest should have substantially more insulation above, than on the sides, as they would in nature. If not, condensation will build up above and that is a recipe for disaster. Ventilation is ok, but in a tree, they don't typically have multiple vents. Bees actually propolize openings to make their spaces less drafty. I've had them propolize all of the vents closed in the summer and fall.
We humans try to ventilate their hives as we see fit. In the end we kill bees.

In Indiana we are 20-30F much of Jan-Feb with a couple weeks below zero in there.

Our hives were actually made for Russian winters, so much more brutal than we experience.

 

[ponytug]

Our hives have 1.5" of insulation in the walls, on three sides of the nest, 4" above the nest, and one cold wall. This forces all moisture to condense on a cold wall, and not over the bees, thus freezing them. We can get puddles of water in the bottom of the hive, but it never falls on the bees.
We have only ever lost one colony over winter, and it didn't die until the first week of March due to starvation. We didn't harvest from them the year prior, but they had 15 pounds of honey for winter. Good riddance to a weak colony of bees. Ours all came through with about 15-20 pounds of honey left this spring.

That's a great idea! Which wall do you leave cold?

All the best,

Peter

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

So, these are horizontals... So the entire box is insulated when it's built. A 4" thick wool stuffed pillow is placed above the nest, which encompasses 7-10 frames, or about half the width of the hive, over winter. At the end of the nest is placed a 3/4" thick divider board to separate the nest from the open space. A 3/8" gap is left at the bottom. That is the cold wall of the nest.
The bees consume very little honey because the nest is warmer, creating less condensation, and also the coldest part of the hive is NOT above the bees. The top of the frames is the most insulated portion. Any wall can be cold, but the ceiling can't be. Our divider boards are the cold wall.

 

[ponytug]

So, these are horizontals... So the entire box is insulated when it's built. A 4" thick wool stuffed pillow is placed above the nest, which encompasses 7-10 frames, or about half the width of the hive, over winter. At the end of the nest is placed a 3/4" thick divider board to separate the nest from the open space. A 3/8" gap is left at the bottom. That is the cold wall of the nest.
The bees consume very little honey because the nest is warmer, creating less condensation, and also the coldest part of the hive is NOT above the bees. The top of the frames is the most insulated portion. Any wall can be cold, but the ceiling can't be. Our divider boards are the cold wall.

I'm very very impressed with your design and practices. It seems much more in keeping with bees, and their nature than many of the practices that I see around here.

Thanks for posting!

All the best,

Peter

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'm very very impressed with your design and practices. It seems much more in keeping with bees, and their nature than many of the practices that I see around here.

Thanks for posting!

All the best,

Peter

This design was specifically made to accommodate bees. Langstroth was specifically made to accommodate maximum honey production, even at the cost of bees natural tendencies. Every year our survival rate far exceeds our friends who use langstroth hives... But they still cling to the type of beekeeping they were taught. Because of 95% of people are doing it, it must be the best... Er, maybe not when you understand how bees live and thrive in nature. Beekeepers work very hard to make bees, not act like bees, and then wonder why bees don't survive. I know I'm not smarter than the creator of all things.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

More swarm traps up!

 

[EddieWalker]

Is there a good book for total novices that explains everything in very simple terms? My wife really wants bees. And happy wife, happy life. We would like to find a step by step list with everything we need to get started. If something like that exists?

 

[JasperFrank]

Do you have to buy mason bees or do they just show up if you make site/nest area for them?

 

[Torvy]

Is there a good book for total novices that explains everything in very simple terms? My wife really wants bees. And happy wife, happy life. We would like to find a step by step list with everything we need to get started. If something like that exists?

Right there with you, my friend.

Mine is going to a class in New Summerfield. East Texas Beekeepers. A bit of hands-on. $100. I think it is next week.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Beekeeping with a Smile
Keeping Bees in Horizontal hives
I read those one winter and then began my apiary. I’ve never had a mentor

 

[EddieWalker]

Beekeeping with a Smile
Keeping Bees in Horizontal hives
I read those one winter and then began my apiary. I’ve never had a mentor

Thank you. I added them to my Amazon list.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I will say, using horizontal hives is MUCH less physically taxing than using a vertical hive. I’d suggest someone wanting to use Langstroth hives, actually go do a hive inspection or honey harvest mid summer on one. One box can weigh 50 pounds. And, you agitate the heck out of the bees as you split the hive in half, or worse.
I’ve seen people leave beekeeping due to the physical requirements of using Langstroth hives. Some have experimented with horizontal Langstroth hives, but the frames are too shallow, and the bees don’t fare well. They do this because they have a plethora of Langstroth frames. It’s easier to start beekeeping, where you want to end… otherwise changing your practices becomes too costly.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Oh, I guess it’s Keeping Bees With a Smile. It’s on my shelf. There is also a plethora of information at horizontalhive.com

Im not affiliated with Leo, but I’ve learned a lot from him. And if you email him, he will respond within a day typically.

 

[ponytug]

Do you have to buy mason bees or do they just show up if you make site/nest area for them?

We have them here, and they take care of themselves, but if extra nesting tubes are made available, they seem to use them. The species are fairly specific on tube diameter, so either use a variety and see what works, or figure out your local species in advance.

I once found an old nest in antique light fixture, packed with carefully cut rose petals around the egg cases. It was very pretty, and I was glad to discover that they weren't the current generation.

You can buy them.

All the best,

Peter

 

[NorTracNY]

Is there a good book for total novices that explains everything in very simple terms? My wife really wants bees. And happy wife, happy life. We would like to find a step by step list with everything we need to get started. If something like that exists?

There are lots of books, but finding your local beekeeping club that offers classes and a mentor are MUCH better. If your wife wants bees, she should get involved with a club. Around here they teach classes Dec-Mar, and new bees are started in April/May. I'm sure beekeeping in Texas is different than in NY. A mentor can help you know what to do and when. A book is great for learning outside the class and a mentor.

One of the very first things that was said at my first class was that there is no one right way to keep bees. I still remember that to this day. I would not recommend starting by keeping bees in a manner that is not common in your area. Horizontal beekeeping has its advantages, but also comes with significant disadvantages. Without a mentor with many years of experience keeping bees in that manner, is just asking for a problem.

 

[JasperFrank]

I was very surprised reading that you should put a screen over a Mason Bee "hotel", while they are hibernating, so woodpeckers don't eat them. WE HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH WOOD PECKERS 'ROUND HERE. I think my BIL has ill will towards me. He gave us his used little Bambeco house, but left out the Bamboo straws. Spent two hours making holes in untreated wood blocks to made my own. Then I looked up what a new one would cost with the straws..... $12.... He must be laughing at me right about now.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

The funny thing about keeping bees in a horizontal hive is... The beekeeper doesn't do anything that requires education. General knowledge of bees is good, but as far as management practices... We don't manage bees. God made them to be independent... We don't manipulate frames, boxes, feed, treat with chemicals. I fill it with frames in April. I pull 10 frames in September.