Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Cossack on January 01, 2009, 07:11:24 pm
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Hello everyone and Happy New Year!!!!!!!
On New Years Eve we had a bad wind storm with gusts up to 60 MPH. A we had few trees that went down but the worst news was that I had 8 Bee hives that were all on a long platform. As the wind blew it put pressure on the tops of the hives and forced them all to work to together to fall over. I came home from work around 4:30 P.M. and discovered the tragedy.
The bees were huddled together in their own hives but it looked like they were shivering. I was able to quickly put them on cinder blocks. My question is will they be okay or are these 8 doomed in 2008? I am not sure how many will make it. It was really cold and I am assuming they had been exposed to the elements for up to 8 hours.
Any suggestions??????????????? Comments ???????????
:shock:
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My money is that they make it. Had the same thing happen a couple times. Never with 8, but with singles. And I do not remember one dying.
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Cossack,
I sure hope your bees recover, only time will tell.
I also hope you reconfigure your hives in a way that each one is independent. All mine are on concrete blocks and concrete slabs, plus concrete bricks on top against a good western windbreak of trees and shrubs. If a strong enough gust caused a tree to fall , damage and loss would be minimal. My hives have withstood gusts of 50 mph from southeastern winds this year, I believe any hive with the right amount of weight on top plus a full load of honey stores can survive against strong winds. The bee glue works wonders to keep hives together too.
I have seen yards with hives stacked on landscape ties elevated on blocks and I have always thought that to be dangerous, but many here may disagree. Here in South Jersey, our winters act like the other 3 seasons at times, not good for the bees.
BH
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Thanks for the replys............... :)
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Cossack, oh such a sad tale, these things that happen to our bees, there are so many tales of these tragedies. Keep that chin up. Personally, I think that with their home put back together, their ability to survive very cold, and their will to live, your bees will be a'faring just fine. Please keep us posted, let us know what happens, we all care, that needs to be known. Have a wonderful and awesome day, great health. Cindi
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Cossack, I too had the wind blast in Chestertown. All my spare woodware was EVERYwhere....I was able to strap my working hives before they blew over. If you ever need backup please pm me..I'll come help you. My lady is a fair Beek as well and stays at home. If you EVER need help please let me know. We are all in this together.
Mark Emerson
VP Queen Anne's County Bee Assc. MSBA