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Offline Dunkel

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Wind/rain
« on: April 03, 2014, 07:57:15 pm »
I just came in from checking on hive after a squall line moved through here.  Three had their lids blow off and get rained full.  Two still had their inner covers on and the only hole was for a jar feeder. The other lost both and rained full along with a wet sugar cake.

 My question is how much did it set these back as far as brood and wet bees?    Supposed to get back in the 30's of a night this weekend but 60's tonight and tomorrow.

I am soaking wet checking on the other hives I had to take a four wheeler to, They were alright.  Me not so much.  One hive had an 8in concrete block on top.  It tore my downspout off the house and blew it 80 yds. 
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2014, 09:05:10 pm »
Dang, sorry to hear that..  I am sure the cold and wet didnt do the brood any good. I try to use ratchet straps... just dont have enough of them yet, so still have rocks on top of some hives as well. I have had whole hives blown over from high winds / possible tornado nearby, but never when it was chilly. Putting them back together when the lightning is flashing makes you THINK about those metal lids a LOT. Wish I could give better advice but all I can do is tell you what I would do.. and thats put them back together as quick as possible..  which is what you did, and hope for the best....
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Offline Dunkel

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2014, 09:16:16 pm »
Lightening will keep you on edge for sure.  Especially, having been struck on a phone before.  The phone was on the wall and some of the current arced to a light switch.  Blew the sheetrock off the wall for about two foot.  I woke up against the stove across the room.  Not scared, but have a healthy respect for it. C:-)
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Offline Perry

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2014, 09:44:20 pm »
You will be amazed at what bees can tolerate. I had 3 hives kicked over on a Monday night, Tuesday was torrential rain, and on Thursday after just setting up at the farmers market my wife drove up (she should have been at work). She had received a phone call that my 3 hives were over turned. I drove right out, the outer covers were upside down and completely full of water, boxes spread out and frames laying around with bees piled on them covering brood. I re-stacked everything and hoped for the best. All three hives survived, the only hiccup was one box with brood had fallen far enough away that the bees in it decided they were queenless and had started emergency cells. Other than that they were fine. Set back a bit no doubt, but not enough to affect them badly.
The only really annoying thing was finding out that someone noticed they were knocked over on Monday, and no one thought to call and tell me till Thursday?  ???
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Offline tefer2

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2014, 08:46:30 am »
Rachet straps on all my stuff!
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Offline Jen

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2014, 11:21:41 am »
Geeez! And I was worried about a cluster of some bees that didn't want to go into the hive late last night ~  :sad:
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Offline Dunkel

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2014, 08:24:48 pm »
Perry,  that sounds exactly like something that would happen to me.

Tefer, I'd love to but I would just snag one and use it for something else.  I can't come up with enough to move six at a time.  BTW, do some hold up to sunlight better than others?

Jen,  It sort of comes with having seasons, although the extremes here lately seem to be a little more screwy. The one that totally lost it's top was also one of the hives that were stolen at Thanksgiving in the snow.  Then on the recovery it turned over in the truck and came apart at 20 degrees.  They aren't as fragile as I thought they were.  I think some syrup I put on today leaked a little and may have caused some robbing to start. :-X
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Offline Jen

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2014, 11:42:24 pm »
Gees Dunke! sometimes it just keeps comin' hu? :sad:
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Offline Barbarian

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2014, 06:57:51 am »
For info.
 
Manley in his book "Honey Farming" (1946), suggested that the Langstroth roof was too shallow. He said that with a deeper closer fitting roof, if the wind started to lift one side of the roof, the roof would lock.

The roofs offered by UK suppliers have 4 or 6" sides.
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Offline tbonekel

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2014, 08:39:07 am »
The tops I have built are pretty short and I'm going to change that on the next batch. I like the idea of tops with longer sides.
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Wind/rain
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2014, 08:45:25 pm »
the bees will cluster and cover as much brood as they have a population to do so the bees will shed the water around the cluster the thing that would have been hard on the bees is if they had to contend with freezing temps while they were wet. getting the covers back on the colonies quickly will have also lessened the damage caused, and allowed the bees to get the cluster and hive back in order before more damage has been done.
anything that happens to a hive will effect it but bees are extremely resilient and will adjust and compensate to thrive and survive.
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