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Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forums > BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER > EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS > ice storms?

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kathyp
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« on: July 17, 2006, 07:05:10 PM »
i see you guys have brought up the storm question here.  how about ice storms?  we get really bad ones about every 3 years.  we are due this year.  i know the ice wouldn't hurt the outside of the hive, but if it were to seal the hive for a period of time, say overnight, would the bees be ok.  how long does it take for a hive to suffocate?

any ideas about how you would keep some kind of air hole open?  we can get 2 or 3 inches of ice in a very short amount of time.  then snow usually falls on top of that...then more ice.....
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Apis629
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« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2006, 09:38:13 PM »
It's not safe to COMPLETELY seal a hive for any length greater than a minute or two.  They NEED air!  Given I don't get ice storms here...and I'm not entirely sure what one is, I'll leave that part to the northerners.
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« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2006, 11:17:34 PM »
An ice storm can plug the entrance which can cut off the air supply if you are not using either a SBB or a ventilated top.  The Ice storm will not plug up a SBB because the open area is below and protected from direct moisture by the hive.  And no the open floor that a SBB represents will not cause the bees to freeze the heat will stay in the hive with the excess venting out the bottom, therby keeping the bottom open.
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kathyp
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« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2006, 10:28:23 AM »
thanks.  forgot about the open bottom.  why did the SBB come with that slide in board if i'm never going to use it? Smiley

i am off to the bee store.  also going to by slatted rack if they have one.  we are headed for 100+ degrees this week.  i hope this will help with ventilation on the top and discourage robbing?  i have had some trouble with robbing but nothing big.  don't want to make it worse.
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"What has destroyed liberty and the rights of man in every
government which has ever existed under the sun?  The generalizing
and concentrating all cares and powers into one body, no matter
whether of the autocrats of Russia or France, or of the
aristocrats of a Venetian Senate." --Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C.
Cabell, 1816.
Michael Bush
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« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2006, 10:22:19 PM »
> i know the ice wouldn't hurt the outside of the hive, but if it were to seal the hive for a period of time, say overnight, would the bees be ok. how long does it take for a hive to suffocate?

I've seen bottom entrances blocked by snow and ice.  I've never had top entrances blocked.  You need a top entnrace, even if it's a small one.  I prefer it as the only entrance so I don't have to worry about the mice etc.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#topentrance
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm
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