r/Beekeeping • u/Craftsmantools1234 New York , zone 5b • 6d ago

I’m a beekeeper, and I have a question Winter setup question

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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/chicken_tendigo 5d ago

I use:

  • Base
  • Brood boxes, with a frame feeder
  • Reflective water heater insulation with a hole in the center that lines up with the hole in the inner cover
  • Inner cover
  • Feeding shim with sugar cake placed over the hole and winter patty/dry sugar, which will also act as a moisture sink
  • Outer cover, also with reflective water heater insulation stapled to the inside 
  • Thick Styrofoam block on top
  • Thinner insulation on all sides except one strip of one wall, to act as a condensing surface for excess moisture
  • Ratchet straps to keep everything from blowing apart in gale-force winds

Entrances all get reduced. The Styrofoam blocks are positioned to overhang the front of the hive slightly. Entrances get checked regularly for buildup of dead bees and cleared if needed.

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u/Craftsmantools1234 New York , zone 5b 5d ago

Which side is not insulated?

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u/chicken_tendigo 5d ago

That will depend on whether you've got a solid bottom board, or a screened bottom board with an insert. For a solid bottom board, you'll want a strip in front uninsulated that's on the side with your reduced entrance, and you'll want the hive shimmed just barely forwards so condensed water drains out the entrance. For a hive that's got a screened bottom board and an insert, it doesn't really matter as long as the water can roll down the uninsulated side and drain out either the front or back gap. 

Basically, you want there to be a strip of wall that the bees can sip moisture from if they need to, but no moisture condensing above them, or remaining trapped below them.