Here is the DIY insulated inner cover I built to prevent condensation in our beehives using easily purchased materials. All the hives we have lost have been in the late winter - early spring due to, I believe, condensation and varroa mite load. This year I am determined to eliminate condensation from our hives. Here is a how to on building a DIY insulated inner cover and why you should consider using this cover for your beehives. We put dry sugar inside the inner cover. (Winter feeding beekeeping videos links are at the end of this post.)
The basics of this design are based on those at the informative beekeeping blog Mudsongs.org . I like to read how Phillip is keeping bees in Newfoundland, Canada.
NOTE: Since building these DIY covers, I have also started using just a piece of 2" insulation wedged between the covers, watch the video:
The inner cover I built has a space below the plywood for feeding the bees sugar , sugar cakes, fondant, pollen, or pollen patties. My thinking was why have a wood shim below the cover to place sugar in, why not make a one piece inner cover/shim. That way there would be on less piece of woodenware to deal with.
I used pine 1x5 lumber, the outer dimensions are 20" x 16 ¼".
Here is the bottom of the inner cover, you can hold the plywood in place with scrap molding or pieces of wood. Its important that any space between the plywood and side walls is covered, either with scrap trim or other wood, to keep the bees from moving up into the polystyrene. You don't want the bees trying to chew the insulation. If you have the power tools and woodworking skill, you could dado the insides of the frame and slide the plywood into the dado slot.
I glued these pieces of wood to the sidewall and the plywood, held with a clamp. This held the plywood at the correct depth to allow the insulation to drop into the upper section of the inner cover perfectly. Only use a waterproof wood glue, our beekeeping teacher said never to use Gorilla Glue, as it can foam, and the bees will try to eat the foam that comes out of the wood joint.
Here is the 2" polystyrene placed in the upper section of the insulated inner cover. Use small scraps to fill in any large spaces near the side walls of the cover.
Be sure to drill vent - exit holes in your inner cover. These are ⅜" but i'm thinking they should be ½" to allow more airflow. Going forward, I may chisel out a ⅜' x 1" notch at the bottom of the cover to allow more bees to use the entrance. The holes seem to jam up traffic.
How to cut polystyrene: get one of those utility knives with the blades that are real long, the kind that you can snap off when the tip is dull. use a straight edge to score the polystyrene. Don't use too much pressure, make several passes to allow the knife to cut deeper. Be careful not to cut yourself.
After scoring the foam about halfway though, you can snap the foam apart.
Place the cut over the sturdy edge of a work table and make the break.
top of insulated inner cover with 2" polystyrene
The large space built into the inner cover allows for sugar cakes to be easily put in hive
Honeybees are eating through sugar cakes already
Read more of our beekeeping posts here and watch beekeeping videos here. Thx!
Kyle
I just wanted to say, we have our own apiary in Ohio. We always reduce our hives to 2 "deeps" for winter time. This helps the hive keep their temperature since in the fall the total population of the bees is nearly half after all drones are killed and what not. I love your channel keep up the good work!!!! We have only had our hives for about 5 years or so but have only lost 2 hives over winter in total. The smaller the area the bees are in during winter the easier it is to heat, just make sure they have the required amount of honey/food,
Greg
How did the hive covers perform? How many success winters have you had now?
Eric Gunnar Rochow
so far the insulated inner covers are good. no moisture buildup. thx, eric
Andrew
I have the same thoughts as Kyle. In california we even reduce our hives down to one deep in the winter. That way the bees down wander around in the hive and stay warm in the cluster. My guess is that you'd want to winter with 2 hives where you are at. Less is more.
ROY CARLSON
Very good presentation. I will make use of it. Thanks !
Paul V.
I put a couple small desiccant bags on top of the inner cover to keep the hive dry.
Eric Gunnar Rochow
@paul thanks for the note here. my concern with dessicant bags is maybe the bees would chew through the bags and try to remove the dessicant, and perhaps poison themselves. ? eric.
Roland Cutlip
That was very good information, I have watched your presentations & learned a lot. Keep up the good work Thanks; Roland
Eric Gunnar Rochow
thanks Roland, we will be posting new beekeeping videos soon, spring is almost here. eric.
Chris Nelson
Can I ask about the holes in the inner cover? Do you drill these in all the sides of the inner cover? Do these provide both ventilation and access for the bees? Does the potential for too much air movement that would cool the bees too much?
Eric Gunnar Rochow
the holes are only in the front, just like the entrance of a regular inner cover. I don't think the three 1/2" diameter holes are too much.
Tom Briggs
If the insulated inner cover/sugar cake area is for use during winter months, why would the bees use the vent holes for access? Wouldn't they simply access the food from inside the deeps? Would the open holes invite unwanted guests?
Majetta
What about ants ? We are having lots of ants already and afraid if we add the sugar.... will invite even MORE. What are your thoughts on getting ants away from the hive ?