Feeding rims? or whatever you call them

[Jen]

I called three different reputable bee companies and only one, B and B Honey, knew what i was talking about. Thank you B and B 

Anyway, I have three feeding rims coming Mon or Tues. I need to know how to assemble the top of my hives when I have the feeding rims assembled. I know they go right on top of the top super... then what? inner cover?...

[riverbee]

shims jen......

rims works too.....

b and b honey farms? yep, they will know any curve ball you throw em.  good beekeepers and good suppliers for me. 

for you the shims/rims go on top of your top medium underneath your inner cover.

does b and b carry these?  didn't know they did.

[Jen]

Riv, the B and B rep was just great! new exactly what I was talking about, and called them Pollen Feeding Rims. $2.90 each. Such a deal when you don't have time to make them yourself. They come unassembled and pre-drilled, easy to put together. I can sure handle that myself.

http://www.bbhoneyfarms.com/store/index.php?route=product/search&keyword=pollen%20feeding%20rims

I called Dadant and Glory Bee and the response I got was     I explained what they are for, the measurements. Still got a   

Crazy

Anyway, so it's honey super, feeding rim/shim, lid. Will the rim stick to the lid when I raise up the lid?

[riverbee]

jen, thanks, didn't know b and b carried these, and my guess, you probably talked to ted? 

good price i would agree! as far as the rim sticking to the inner cover........it depends if the bees have had time to propolize it.  by the time i put my shims on, the bees have not had time to propolize it down too much, or at all, to the inner cover, so popping the inner cover is not a problem. if there is some resistance, just slide a hive tool around the edges to break what little propolis might be there and  lift it, tip it, or crack it just enough to shove feed in on a warmer winter day....
 

[Jen]

K, sounds good. Now the purpose of the inner cover is for upper ventilation right? is there any other purpose for the inner cover when it's under the lid?

[LazyBkpr]

upper ventilation if the inner cover has a notch in it.. but the true purpose of the inner cover is to keep the tele cover from getting glued down. Prying off the tele cover would be pretty rough on it and the side of the hive.. The inner cover pries off just like a box pries apart, the tele cover should pop off easily.. 

   

[Jen]

Yup, they all have notches, I'm good to go, Thanks!

   Ooooh! Now do I need to insulate in between the lid and the inner cover?

[Perry]

Yes. 

[riverbee]

jen, have you insulated before?  not sure whether you would need insulation underneath? or very minimal ?

[Papakeith]

I'm on the fence about insulating above the inner cover.  Not quite sure what purpose it serves.  If you have a vent there anyway doesn't the air flow run the heat straight out? Negating any gains gotten by insulating and trying to capture the heat from the cluster.

[Jen]

Riv- Yes! Last year we more than likely over insulated with 1/2 rigid board all the way around my one hive, and on top of the lid... or was it a fitted piece under the lid... anyway....

Hubs and I have been talking today. We will definately no use the rigid board this year.

Contemplating Pete's comment on insulating the lid or not. We are thinking of a loosely fitting tar paper wrap around sides for the solar help on very cold days, remembering last winter we had a fluke of 7 below zero for more than a week.

[Perry]

I'm on the fence about insulating above the inner cover.  Not quite sure what purpose it serves.  If you have a vent there anyway doesn't the air flow run the heat straight out? Negating any gains gotten by insulating and trying to capture the heat from the cluster.

I think if the underside of your inner cover was stone cold (no insulation) that the warm moist air rising from the bees might hit that cold surface before it escaped and could possibly rain back down on them. I have seen plenty of long icicles hanging down from my upper entrances in the winter. I often wonder what the inside might look like if not for that vent.

[LazyBkpr]

   It depends entirely on the size of your vent. If the vent is LARGE it may run everything right out..  My vents are only 3/4 to 1" and often the bees reduce the size to two bee width if its larger, I let them..  The warm air from the cluster DOES rise to the vent, but it also hits the top before it gets vented. Here, I need all the help and luck I can get, so I put the foam between the inner cover and the tele cover.