Feed Bag Inner Cover

[Papakeith]

Has (or is) anyone using feed bags or burlap as inner covers?

I"m contemplating it for my double nucs but wasn't sure about possible moisture issues.  Or, for that matter any other issues that I haven't thought of that might occur should I try them.

[iddee]

Vinyl furniture upholstery material works better.

[apisbees]

Some guys use carpet around here.

[Jen]

Hi Keith    Curious about who you would apply the burlap cover... you mean to lift the lid off, then place the burlap over the frames and edges of the hive then put the lid back on?

[Papakeith]

yep, removing the telescoping cover and instead of a wooden inner cover place a bag over the frames and replace the outer cover.

[Jen]

Hmmm Curious! My first thought is that it will be hard to get off of the hive edges when the bees propolis it down. I won't 'pop' off like the wooden would. However, I like the idea of the ventilation of it.

[apisbees]

Because it is flexible they peel off easily. I have seen a few beekeepers who use thick 6 mill plastic. Most of the guys drill a hole in the top super for ventilation in winter.

[Bakersdozen]

This is all new to me.

[riverbee]

"Has (or is) anyone using feed bags or burlap as inner covers?"

i don't keith, couple old timers around here used feed bags and burlap especially in winter months.  they used what they had, and whatever they had or didn't have for an inner cover, and material over it in winter, the feed bags or burlap to absorb moisture.

[LazyBkpr]

   At one time I had started to save up gran bags to use, but I read something Randy Oliver wrote about it, and why he was switching back..  I don't recall the reasons but will see if I can find it again..   Been a while since I saw that.. wish me luck!

[tbonekel]

Ok, weird question. What about trimmed down political signs? I'm not sure what their original size is but they might work, huh?

[Papakeith]

I don't see why it wouldn't work

[riverbee]

"Ok, weird question. What about trimmed down political signs? I'm not sure what their original size is but they might work, huh?"

tbone, if it's made of anything the bees can chew on, and they will, it might not work........let us know when you try it and report back.............

[tbonekel]

Challenge accepted Riv. Now, to find a politician. 

[shinjak]

I'm currently using coroplast political signs for inner covers. In my well ventilated hive, I have seen no problems. In my less drafty hive, there is moisture built up between the sign and the top, and a little between the sign and the top bars. I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but I do have less crunched bees when I put the tops back on. I plan on cutting jar size holes in them and using them all winter.  My only concern is that the holes may provide an excellent hiding place for small hive beetles, but I haven't had any problems with those yet anyway.

[tbonekel]

You know, you may be on to something. Imagine using coroplast as an inner cover AND shb trap. Hmmm...

[shinjak]

I have noticed some of the writing peeling away on the side with the excessive moisture, but fortunately my signs are one sided. Propolis is also super easy to scrape off the signs, so I always chew some as an after inspection treat. The inner cover/shb trap idea is a great one and worth trying. If you try it, let me know how it goes.

[riverbee]

"Challenge accepted Riv. Now, to find a politician.  "

LOL tbone!!! aw there's plenty of them around......

i am just the old fashioned type keep, like to stick with the tried and true, although i ditched the masonite made inner covers a long time ago.  too many problems with these and too much moisture. 

"I do have less crunched bees when I put the tops back on."

shinjack, no matter what cover you use, the trick to not squashing bees is maybe a little smoke along the edges of the hive body, MORE SO this, set the inner cover down gently at an angle on the hive body, gently enough for them to move out of the way. when you set it down at an angle, then again gently move it into place, any bees that are on the hive edges will move out of the way for you.....