« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Snow on the front porch  (Read 5074 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Finally Home

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 291
  • Gender: Male
Snow on the front porch
« on: January 02, 2014, 04:39:32 pm »
We've got about 4" of snow on the front porch of the hives.  I've heard its ok to leave there.  Is this true? 
Next, we have temps of -7 for a high coming in monday.  If I leave the snow there will that also act as a bit of insulation to keep the extreme temps out??
Logged

Offline iddee

  • Administrator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 6150
  • Thanked: 412 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Sophia, N. C.
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2014, 04:49:57 pm »
I would leave it.
Logged
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2014, 05:02:05 pm »
do you have entrance reducers on? do you have an upper entrance/exit for the bees to fly out?  like iddee, i would just leave it, unless i see it to start icing over, i tip my hives a little forward so the water from respiration runs out, if it's iced it won't.  once inawhile i will go through and brush some of it away, the hard crusty stuff, but not usually fresh snow unless its real icy/sleety/snowy stuff.
Logged
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline Finally Home

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 291
  • Gender: Male
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2014, 05:52:32 pm »
Thanks.  Yep, I keep my hives with a slight forward lean so rain don't run in.  Snow is real fluffy right now.  Small opening on reducers and upper exit on the inner covers are accessible. 
Will just leave them as is.  After this extreme cold snap is gone I might sweep it then.

Much appreciated.
Logged

Offline Barbarian

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 503
  • Thanked: 28 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2014, 12:47:13 am »
This is how I deal with snow on the front porch.




I prefer not to have porches/ alighting boards on my hives.   :P

Logged
" Another Owd Codger "

Offline Perry

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 7382
  • Thanked: 390 times
  • Gender: Male
    • Brandt's Bees
  • Location: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2014, 08:16:10 am »
OK my friend, I'll bite.
What's with the carpet pieces on top of your hives?  ;D
Logged
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
Forum Supporter

Offline GLOCK

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
  • Thanked: 2 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: SNOW SHOE PA.
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2014, 08:32:47 am »
I put sheets of ply wood across the fronts and it acts as a little porch for the bees works great.

Keeps the wind out also  8)
Logged
Say hello to the bad guy.
5 year Beekeeper/40 hives/ treat{oav}

Offline Barbarian

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 503
  • Thanked: 28 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2014, 06:20:44 pm »
Carpet pieces.

I put the carpet on the ground in front of the concrete slab. It acts as a weed barrier. Pieces went on top of the hives whilst I tidied the ground round the hives.

Sorry to puzzle you.    :sad:   :-[
Logged
" Another Owd Codger "

Offline LazyBkpr

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 6842
  • Thanked: 205 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.outyard.net
    • The Outyard
  • Location: Richland Iowa
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2014, 07:09:21 pm »
Pretty slick Idea Glock..   Think that would help with wind or create a funnel?
Logged
Drinking RUM before noon makes you a PIRATE not an alcoholic!

*Sponsor*

Offline lazy shooter

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1449
  • Thanked: 64 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brownwood, Texas
Re: Snow on the front porch
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2014, 08:27:15 am »
Quote from: LazyBkpr on January 16, 2014, 07:09:21 pm
Pretty slick Idea Glock..   Think that would help with wind or create a funnel?

It would depend on the wind direction.  Also, there has to be a funnel, or wind turbulence, on any feral hive in a hollow tree.  From an engineering point of view, I don't think the plywood covers will be harmful to the bees comings and goings.  Just my opinion.  They do look neat.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »