Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Bamabww on February 19, 2014, 05:54:56 pm

Title: Snow on my hives in North Alabama
Post by: Bamabww on February 19, 2014, 05:54:56 pm

Something I never thought I'd have to do in Alabama is clean snow off my hives. Last week I had to do that twice.

Here's the first snow that blocked the entrance completely off. I cleaned it off for two reasons: to restore the ventilation and to help keep the melting snow from adding moisture inside the hive.  Is that what I should have done? My hives are placed where the entrance drains away from the hive.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs28.postimg.cc%2Fsneyfzl5l%2FIMG_1672.jpg&hash=2ef8049b8f42eb6d64fce24e0db4a23aca2b11ea) (http://postimg.cc/image/sneyfzl5l/)

Here is the second snow.



(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs28.postimg.cc%2F5vebj4rtl%2FIMG_1805.jpg&hash=b3ae54367297a04d10f24295b752b39e7de69192) (http://postimg.cc/image/5vebj4rtl/)

Title: Re: Snow on my hives in North Alabama
Post by: iddee on February 19, 2014, 06:18:52 pm

We got 6 inches last Thursday. I never even looked at my hives until today. The snow was gone, and I didn't have to do a thing.   :o  :D

Title: Re: Snow on my hives in North Alabama
Post by: LazyBkpr on February 19, 2014, 08:28:20 pm

Spent some time in Bessemer Alabama back when I got out of the Navy.  Had a couple snows that winter, I wasn't impressed either!

Title: Re: Snow on my hives in North Alabama
Post by: riverbee on February 20, 2014, 12:40:05 pm

"Here's the first snow that blocked the entrance completely off. I cleaned it off for two reasons: to restore the ventilation and to help keep the melting snow from adding moisture inside the hive.  Is that what I should have done? My hives are placed where the entrance drains away from the hive."

great pics bama, i clear the snow away up here, especially if it turns to ice and dams up the front entrance and prevents moisture/water from running out, so you did fine. i also tilt my hives from the back just a smidge to aid in having the moisture run out.

Title: Re: Snow on my hives in North Alabama
Post by: GLOCK on February 20, 2014, 05:34:19 pm

I put pieces of ply wood over the fronts and that helps with the snow build up and I have a top entrance on all my hives in the winter even my nucs  no moisture build up in the hive.
My hives are 3 foot off the ground and the snow just keeps piling up I hate this time of year. :sad:
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi952.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae9%2FGLOCK3%2FBEEKEEPING%25202014%2FP2160136_zps8eeb2293.jpg&hash=8fb42b48e92869d4c98d8885e1f8cd5c98df5596) (http://s952.photobucket.com/user/GLOCK3/media/BEEKEEPING%202014/P2160136_zps8eeb2293.jpg.html)