« previous next »
Pages: 1 [2]   Go Down

Author Topic: Dead Hive, My Fault  (Read 9898 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline mdunc

  • Regular Member
  • **
  • Posts: 13
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Eddyville, KY
Re: Dead Hive, My Fault
« Reply #20 on: March 14, 2014, 08:34:05 pm »
Some of the time or should I say most of the time things don't make much sense to me in the bee world. Last year I went into winter with 7 hives & came out with 3 & it was a very mild winter. This year I went into winter with 10 & so far 9 have made it & this winter has been extreme. I fed patties this year same as I did last year so it just doesn't make sense to me as to why I've fared better this year but I'll take it.
Logged

Offline Crofter

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 320
  • ex pressure welder/steamfitter; now a tinker
  • Location: N. Ontario, On the shore of North Channel of Lake Huron 46.00 N. Lat.
Re: Dead Hive, My Fault
« Reply #21 on: March 14, 2014, 09:00:02 pm »
Anyone have any thoughts about whether the bees can move sideways easier on wax foundation where the bees just have to chew a hole through to get to the other side instead of going around the frames. My son thought he could see more signs of starvation in that situation on plastic foundation than on wax, but we have not really done any controlled experiment.
Logged
Frank

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: Dead Hive, My Fault
« Reply #22 on: March 14, 2014, 10:50:13 pm »
"Anyone have any thoughts about whether the bees can move sideways easier on wax foundation where the bees just have to chew a hole through to get to the other side instead of going around the frames. My son thought he could see more signs of starvation in that situation on plastic foundation than on wax, but we have not really done any controlled experiment."

frank, jack uses beeswax foundation.....
Logged
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline LazyBkpr

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 6842
  • Thanked: 205 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.outyard.net
    • The Outyard
  • Location: Richland Iowa
Re: Dead Hive, My Fault
« Reply #23 on: March 14, 2014, 11:03:17 pm »
   On my Italian cross hives from southern texas, the bees starved on location without moving two inches to reach stores.  They had moved up about half a frame, and thats where they were DONE.
   The Carnys, and feral bees seemed to have no issue with COMPLETELY emptying all three medium boxes of every ounce of honey..  irregardless of the extreme conditions this winter..   Despite my dislike of a sheet of plastic between bees in a cluster I have to admit that the frames of plastic I do still have in some hives seemed to make no difference in the survival of the Carniolan and feral stock.
    I have no scientific proof, only the observation..  I would like to say that the plastic made a HUGE difference, or that all the boxes with plastic died...  But at this point I see not a whit of difference.
   
   
Logged
Drinking RUM before noon makes you a PIRATE not an alcoholic!

*Sponsor*

Offline apisbees

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 3723
  • Thanked: 331 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Vernon B.C.
Re: Dead Hive, My Fault
« Reply #24 on: March 16, 2014, 04:34:36 am »
Another factor with the queen excluder is the cold would transfer into the cluster thru the metal by thermal bridging causing an unnatural cold barrier.
Logged
Honey Judge, Beekeeping Display Coordinator, Armstrong Fair and Rodeo.
Pages: 1 [2]   Go Up
« previous next »