Too much moisture in my hive

[D1ckyd00]

I lost both of my hives this winter do to I beleive moisture.

I probably over winterized the hives.

I put 3 inch insulation under the top cover with two holes drilled for ventalation, tar papered with #15 lb paper, and kept the screend bottom board closed.

When I opend the hives here in March I notice lots of mositure dripping from the comb and all of my bees dead.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Dickydoo

[Perry]

Was the screened bottom board closed, as in the tray was left in, or was the bottom entrance closed off  alltogether? Also, what size holes did you use for upper vents?
I use a slightly different system for upper venting.




I use the spacer/shim for when I put fondant on a needy hive, otherwise I just use 1 1/2" styrofoam.

[LazyBkpr]

I actually do the same thing Perry does....


   http://outyard.weebly.com/wintering.html

   Your climate may differ in that you have more humidity and need a bit more ventilation than normal?

[riverbee]

hey dd,
i think your own assessment is probably correct with what you described.

what perry asked~

"Was the screened bottom board closed, as in the tray was left in, or was the bottom entrance closed off  alltogether? Also, what size holes did you use for upper vents?"

you and i have similar weather in wisconsin.  this is how i winter my bees. i don't use SBB's. just a bottom board. entrance reducers at 3" or more, or left off. i wrap my hives in a material from b and b honey farm, out of houston, minnesota;  'colony quilt'.   my inner covers have notches cut out in them 3 to 3 1/2", notch down.  i place 2" of polystyrene (the pink stuff) under the outer cover on top the inner cover, you really don't need 3" of this here in wisconsin.  i also put a shim on if i think i might need one; a 2" incher,  but it goes under the inner cover rather than over the inner cover.  i like to put feed on the bees if i have to in an emergency so that it is right over top of them without the barrier of the inner cover. but have done so over the inner cover. i have also left the shims off because the winter patties i use fit underneath the deep side of the inner cover.  with that said, i keep russian bees, they are conservative on honey stores, so don't find the need to feed them fondant or winter patty until very late winter when temps are conducive to slide feed on top of the frames directly above them.  hope i made sense?

[rrog13]

I use a vent/insulation top box.  It has #8 hardware cloth on the bottom.  During winter I have an inner box, which also has screen on the bottom, filled with cedar chips.  The moisture goes up through the cedar chips and away from the bees.  The top side of the cedar chips will be damp but the bottom side is dry as a bone.  I build the inner box so that it sits high enough off the bottom screen in case you need to add sugar cakes in late winter.  The cakes can be added or checked very quickly and without having to break open the hive.  In the summer, I take out the inner box to allow additional ventilation in our 100 degree summers.  This works great for me here in GA.

[lazy shooter]

What moisture?  Is it something that mixes in the air?  Oh, I remember it is formed from water.  It's not a problem where I keep bees. 

[D1ckyd00]

Yes my screened bottom board was closed off completly with board in, the holes I had drilled in the upper cover area where I put the insulation was two @ 3/8 inches

Thanks for all of the informative answers
Dickydoo

[tefer2]

We use the same method as Perry and Scott.
The difference is that we place the 2 inch feeder shim on top of the frames of top box.
After the shim comes the notched inner cover then the insulation and top.
We had no moisture problems this winter.

[Perry]

I wonder if the upper vents were not big enough? They didn't get plugged by dead bees at all did they?

[D1ckyd00]

I dont think so Perry, although I could make them 1 inch perhaps what do you suggest.

Dickydoo

[LazyBkpr]

my top entrance is 1" to 1.5" by 3/8.  lower entrance reduced to 3" by 3/8.   Works very well for our climate.  If you have higher humidity thisd may take some adjustments.

[Riverrat]

3/8's holes are way to small to properly ventilate a hive. Unless you drill several

[riverbee]

dd, i just went back and re-read your first post
"I put 3 inch insulation under the top cover with two holes drilled for ventalation,"

did you put the insulation underneath the inner cover, or underneath the outer cover on top of the inner cover? like i said earlier, 2" would be sufficient.
does your inner cover have a notch? what riverrat said about a 3/8 hole.

the u of m recommends a 1" hole drilled in the center of each deep, that can be stuffed with a cork, the bottom one, if need be in summer months. i have a beek friend that does this, works well for her.  i don't like drilling holes in my boxes...

[Slowmodem]

the u of m recommends a 1" hole drilled in the center of each deep, that can be stuffed with a cork, the bottom one, if need be in summer months. i have a beek friend that does this, works well for her.  i don't like drilling holes in my boxes...

If you want to get fancy, you can put these metal circles on your hive over your hole.

http://www.kelleybees.com/Shop/13/Hives-Components/Accessories/4078/Metal-Disc-Entry

[D1ckyd00]

Riverbee

I put the insulation R-10 under the outer cover over the top of the inter cover and I used 2" insulation not 3" as I had previously stated

Im gonna increase  size of hole

Dickydoo

[pistolpete]

I think that it really does not matter how much insulation is on top of the hive (as long as there's some).   It does not keep the hive warm, it keeps hoar frost from forming on the inside of the top cover.   i provide a space about 1/2"x1" at the top and bottom of the hive to provide slow but steady air curculation.   There is still a bit of ice that builds up on the inside walls of the hive and when it all melts in the spring the bottom of the hive is quite wet for about a week. 

[riverbee]

Riverbee
I put the insulation R-10 under the outer cover over the top of the inter cover and I used 2" insulation not 3" as I had previously stated
Im gonna increase  size of hole

thanks dd for the clarification, wasn't sure what you meant.