Back in October, I combined a weak Top Bar hive with another, and a weak Langstroth hive into the swarm I caught this past spring. So went into winter with two Langs and 4 Top Bar.
This time I used the reflective bubble wrap on the Langs but with the negative temps we are expecting, I took it off and put the black roofing paper around the hives then added the bubble wrap to the sides and back. The black paper on the front will help heat the hive when the sun is out.
The Top Bar hives are winterized as usual: foam board on the sides, burlap bag of wood chips on top of the bars with metal roof on top and tarp over the whole hive.
As of January 27th, all hives are doing well.
January temps have been all over the place. On the warm days, the bees were out taking pollen. (Ignore the temp for the 27th.)
This time I used the reflective bubble wrap on the Langs but with the negative temps we are expecting, I took it off and put the black roofing paper around the hives then added the bubble wrap to the sides and back. The black paper on the front will help heat the hive when the sun is out.
The Top Bar hives are winterized as usual: foam board on the sides, burlap bag of wood chips on top of the bars with metal roof on top and tarp over the whole hive.
As of January 27th, all hives are doing well.
January temps have been all over the place. On the warm days, the bees were out taking pollen. (Ignore the temp for the 27th.)
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