Keeping bees inside a pole barn?

[murph101]

I am tired of losing colonies every winter.  I have a large pole barn (roughly 40x60) with one 40' side always open - no door.  Does anyone have experience or thoughts about moving bee hives inside the barn permanently?  They would be out of the rain, out of the wind, and out of the snow.  If I put them right next to the door they would get 3-4 hours of direct sunlight a day and be shaded for the rest of the time. 

Thanks!

[Joseph Bessetti]

Gut reaction first:  do you know why you are losing colonies every winter?  If the winter losses are unrelated to "shelter", then moving your hives into a pole barn might not solve your problem.  In fact, your pole barn could just as easily serve as a wind-tunnel, or the reduced sun exposure could negatively impact cleansing flights on warm days or spring build-up and just become a new set of problems to overcome instead of solution you want it to be. 
 
I would first focus on understanding exactly why you lose colonies every winter and compare what you're doing to others who have significantly higher success rates. 
 
"Cellaring" or "Warehousing" colonies under controlled conditions used to be fairly common and is still practiced by some commercial operations.  I've run across some old literature on the subject and talked to a commercial beekeeper in Montana recently who is currently overwintering 40 hives in a warehouse, but I haven't researched the practice with any purpose.  Perhaps there are others with experience.
 
Joe
 
 

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Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 11:40:45 -0700
From: mike.mur...@gmail.com
To: mad...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [madbees] Keeping bees inside a pole barn?

I am tired of losing colonies every winter.  I have a large pole barn (roughly 40x60) with one 40' side always open - no door.  Does anyone have experience or thoughts about moving bee hives inside the barn permanently?  They would be out of the rain, out of the wind, and out of the snow.  If I put them right next to the door they would get 3-4 hours of direct sunlight a day and be shaded for the rest of the time. 

Thanks!

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[Paul Zelenski]

I agree that putting the hives in a pole barn will not solve all the problems, but may help. If you keep the door open (even in winter) they will not really be sheltered from the winter temps. They will be sheltered from the wind. If your hives are currently in a gusty, windy location being in the barn would be an improvement. I put up tarps as windbreaks for the hives I have on a windswept hill. I haven't tried without, so don't have a comparison, but I believe it helps them overwinter successfully. Another benefit your hives may have is to be shaded during the hottest part of summer. Then again, they may miss out on the nice warming sun in early spring and late fall.

 

Personally, I think it might be worth an experiment for you. I don't think it will solve all of your problems, but it might be enough to tip the scales if you bees were just on the edge of survival before.

[Luke N.]

My dad stopped losing his hives in the winter when he moved them to a bee barn for that season.  I think it would help you with your winter loses, but I'm not sure about what it would do in the summer.  It'd probably be okay if the 3-4 hours of sun were in the morning. 

With that size of a building there is no need for any thought of extra ventilation unless ou are running more than a hundred hives in there.  Wintering bees in buildings is an old technique that lost favor to shipping bees across the country in the winter. 

How many hives do you have?  You could summer your hives outdoors and then easily move them indoors in the winter.  A dolly does a great job and it is quick and easy. 

I agree with Paul that this is a worthwhile experiment.

luke

[blu...@madtown.net]

About 35 years ago, before mites,  I moved about 20 hives into the lower part of our old barn where we used to keep cattle. They were back in and  fully protected from the wind but it was still cold and I believe the doors were loosly closed so they didn't get any sun.    They did not get out during warmer days because they did not  warm up enough to go out. 
Most of them did not survive. Either they ran out of food or moisture collected in them.  A good windbreak  where they can get some sun is much better.

Wintered at 45 Degrees F. with temperature and humidity control and proper ventilation would be best.  

Sounds like winter in Florida to me. 

Dale

[murph101]

Thanks to everyone for your helpful responses.  After considering your advice and further investigating my situation, I think that wind is a major contributor to my losses.  I am planning to wait until late fall and then move them just under the roofline on the downwind side of the barn.  They will be out of the wind and snow but not deep in the barn out of the sun.  I'll take them out again as soon as the snow is clear enough to move them with a dolly.  

Ill let everyone know how it goes. 

[Paul Zelenski]

I put a couple Tposts up and wrap a tarp around my hives. This provides a windbreak, but allows for sun and the bees to fly. Seems to really help my hives. I'm not sure if moving your hives or putting up a tarp is more work, though.