Insulating Beehives For Winter

Over winter i use insulation under the hive roof or cover my hives with insulation.

Insulating beehives for winter.

Not to mention winter bees are completely different from the bees you see during the spring. The winter cluster starts in the brood chamber when ambient temperatures reach 54 to 57 degrees f. While it is much more temperate here we still get freezing temps in fact we have a freeze potential in a few days. Winter is at the top of that cause of death list.

It is really neat how the hive knows to lay a tougher bee to protect the queen during winter. Truly bees are just fascinating creatures. I know that brother adam and r o b. I follow the saying that it s not the cold that kills bees but the damp so i don t use insulation.

Styrofoam insulation keeps the heat inside the hive that the bees generate as they keep the cluster warm. Let s get something straight though before we dive into winterize hives. I m a strong advocate of making sure the colony has plenty of stores. Our agricultural practices have altered their environment so much so that s something new to contend with.

In colder climates the bees may need some help retaining heat. January 20 2016 daniel bee diy do it yourself hive hive wrap honeybee honeybees insulate insulation winter 1 comment wrapping the hive for winter is likely not necessary in my region. When cold weather comes the cluster forms in the center of the two hive bodies. Explore the most advanced bee hive.

In the winter bees create a cluster for warmth. You can do this by insulating beehives for winter. It covers the top bars of the frames in the lower chamber and extends over and beyond the bottom bars of the frames in the food chamber. However i m in the south atlanta area.

It makes perfect sense that either wrapping or foam plate insulating a hive in harsh winters is a good idea particularly up north. Winter isn t new to them but our hives are. Manley were not in favour. However everything on a farm boils down to energy management.

A special filling material used in the top cover and side walls of thermo hives provides thermal insulation offering a suitable habitat for the colony in different climate conditions. Styrofoam winter hive wraps works differently than tar paper as it works to keep the hive warm according to the styrofoam s r value. Less energy spent on keeping the cluster warm over winter translates into less energy. The bee cozy protects your hives from freezing winter temperatures and provides a windbreak for breezy locations.

So though winter is a tough time for them they ve clearly toughed it out before. A bee cozy provides a waterproof breathable layer of insulation around the hive. These easy to use slip on slip off uv treated polypropylene wraps contain environmentally friendly r8 fiberglass just the insulating layer your bees need to winter successfully.