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Queen

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orhdpos

Joined: 20 Jun 2009
Posts: 30

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 09 9:06 pm Post subject: Queen

second attempt
Went to see me bee's on saturday to remove apistan strips been in for 7 ish weeks so first time I really had a good look for a few weeks been feeding since September hive 1 seen queen plenty sealed honey some open, hive 2 saw queen sealed brood and larvea an amount of sealed /open honey, hive 3 did'nt see queen but sealed brood and larvea sealed honey /open, is it a bit late in the year for larvea/ brood in late oct I did put on some insulation 2" in the roof and 2" on 3 sides it was 2" thick roof insulation on the front in Sept I put on a wasp trap to stop robbing and will now leave it on as a mouse trap it has s/steel mesh on the front am I doing things right or what should I be doing ,it's my 1st year might just cover the hives with plasic to keep woodpeckers away and on a warm day in december treat with acetic acid/ sugar .

Dogwalker

Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 1231
Location: Mid Wales

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 09 9:12 pm Post subject:
Can't help much, someone more knowledgable will be along soon I expect. But is plastic a good idea, I'd have thought condensation may be a problem. I've seen hives surrounded by chicken wire to protect from woodpeckers.

orhdpos

Joined: 20 Jun 2009
Posts: 30

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 09 9:18 pm Post subject:
Hive bottom open mesh for varroa drop so don't think condensation would be a problem air convection ? and all that, read plastic black hold heat and stop woody getting a grip and probably noise scares them or movement in the wind?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 09 6:08 am Post subject:
IMO covering with plastic isn't a good idea. Moisture is carried upwards through convection not down. You don't say where you are so depending on locality it's not rare to find brood, sometimes even eggs in the autumn.

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 09 3:18 pm Post subject:

Get hold of your local bee keeping association, they will give good local advice freely ...opening the hive in the winter can be a very silly thing to do,if they get cold they can "Ball" the queen to get her temperature back up and suffocate her..and its like taking a baby out of its cot and freezing it no matter how quick you are, the baby gets cold.I know there is a lot of different opinions on bee keeping but look to the old fashioned ways,. learn the life cycle of the bee and see how they can survive without our"Help"..in the wild..it is a privaledge to steal thier winter stores of honey...and if you get to know thier life style as much as you can then work with them not dictate to them all the better. Happy Bees equals more honey for them and for us to share.

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