curlu Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Hi everyone This may be covered somewhere in the Guide but I have not spotted it so thought I would ask on here. I have been feeding using contact feeder and clearer board, when feeding is finished, do I remove the clearer board and replace with cover board for winter? It seems a bit counter productive to be opening the hive at this time of year. But if I leave the cover board on with its hole, will that adversely affect the hive? Also if I need to feed over winter then I assume I will need to leave a clearer board on so that they can access the food rather than a completely sealed top of hive? Is there a need to cover the hole in the clearer board if left on? Or is the beehaus lid sufficiently insulated to leave it open? Many thanks Pamela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Do you mean a feeder board? A clearer board is used to remove bees from a super when harvesting. I don't have a beehaus but I do have poly hives. I have left my feeder boards on, just covering the hole, when I used to feed fondant in a container but I now feed,if needed, straight onto the cluster so after feeding I replace the feeder board with a solid crown board. Your choice really, just NO HOLE. PS are you really feeding with a contact feeder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlu Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Thanks for the reply, the Beehaus does not have a "feeder" board, only 2 types of boards one solid and the other with a hole in it which Omlet refer to as a clearer board it has an insert which can be removed much the same as with a national I would imagine. Omlet only has one type of feeder that it suggests as suitable for use with the beehaus given the dimensions of the supers and I believe its a 1/2 gallon contact feeder. I hope some experienced beehaus users will comment as this is my first winter with bees! Pamela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Ah....just nomenclature then. I've just had a look at the instruction manual. The clearer board appears to have a lip top-side. You would have to fit this with some sort of insulation. Failing that you could leave a super on top and put a layer of 50mm EPS in it. It all looks a bit of a faff. How quick is it to whip off a clearer board and pop on the cover board. Seconds I should think. The bees will hardly notice. Pity the cover boards aren't see through Why don't you phone Omlet.... Best of luck and tell us what they say....I'd like to know anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Hi curlu A quick search has revealed three people on here with beehauses. You could pm them? TheChookKeeper is quite active on the forum, I'm sure they wouldn't mind Posted 29th......What did you do in the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
