Insulating bee hives for winter

gspike · 12-10-13, 10:15 AM

Nice work, insulating can be a good strategy for a quick spring buildup.

Might need a hole or two in the bottom to keep airflow, and prevent condensation every clime is different
I lost some hives that way. Terraced a new hive stand into the side of a hill, and the blocks settled backwards to a negative slope. Fine through a dry fall but when winter rain and high humidity came the bottom boards got water inside and the poor cold wet bees ate through sixty pounds of honey in a month and starved.

I felt awful, but learned a few lessons, keep dry, keep feed out in winter, and check them as often as i can.

12-10-13, 10:15 AM	#11
gspike Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: north georgia Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice work, insulating can be a good strategy for a quick spring buildup. Might need a hole or two in the bottom to keep airflow, and prevent condensation every clime is different I lost some hives that way. Terraced a new hive stand into the side of a hill, and the blocks settled backwards to a negative slope. Fine through a dry fall but when winter rain and high humidity came the bottom boards got water inside and the poor cold wet bees ate through sixty pounds of honey in a month and starved. I felt awful, but learned a few lessons, keep dry, keep feed out in winter, and check them as often as i can.