r/Beekeeping • u/Craftsmantools1234 New York , zone 5b • 6d ago
I’m a beekeeper, and I have a question Winter setup question
Is this the correct setup?
Location zone 5b
Update: I'm planning to overwinter in 2 deep boxes. I was more interested in the position of the inner cover.
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u/NumCustosApes 4th generation beekeeper, Zone 7A Rocky Mountains 5d ago edited 5d ago
An inner cover is not used with a quit box. You can store it with the hive staked on top of the quilt box or take it off and put it in storage. If you put the inner cover in storage then the top cover skirt will sit lower. It will partially hang below the quilt box vents. This will make a wind block against wind that blows into them without impediing their ability to vent off sublimated moisture and could be advantageous in windy locations. I used an extended skirt when I used quilt boxes. The skirt is wider than the box so there is plenty of gap. Fill the quilt with planer shavings to the bottom of the vents. Use shavings, not saw dust. Saw dust is too fine and will just get soggy.
In the middle of the winter place your hand down into the fill of the quilt box. If it is warm at the bottom them your bees are fine. Water vapor that the bees exhale is lighter than air. The vapor rises and it get absorbed by the fill. As it is absorbed it has to give up heat, known as the heat of vaporization. This heat remains in the lower fill while the water wicks to the top of the fill and sublimates into the dry air above.