Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[Astrid]

We learn that bees are sensitive to smell. As my TBH is in a very cold climate (Oslo), I am considering to give the hive some extra insulation during winter - at least on the side where I have inspection windows, to minimize condensation. I have some scrap wool directly from a friend's sheep which I can make a blanket from. Will this be too smelly for the bees?

[magger]

Hi
I have used scrap sheeps wool as an insulation layer for the past three winters and it has been great. However I did give it a wash. Not very thorough, just to get the worst off. I did this when the weather was good, so the wet wool dried outside, however I have also dried it in the tumble dryer, put it in an old pillow case, tie the top well. I then fluff it up a bit and it stays in the pillow case so making a nice duvet!
I have two pillow case duvets covering the bars, just under the roof, and this year have put another in the space behind the follower board, so I feel the bees are happily tucked up for winter!
Last year I managed to pinch a lovely piece of fleece before it got bagged up. (all the good stuff gets sent off the wool marketing board). Beautiful creamy white, no daggy stuff, just smelt of lanolin. I used that without washing with no problems for the bees.
As we have quite a few sheep I do all sorts of alternative things with daggy bits of wool. It is fantastic to cover empty beds for the winter(the garden variety!) it has transformed our heavy clay soil.
Hope you put it to use
Best wishes
Mary

[Che Guebuddha]

I used in 2012 raw sheep wool behind the observation window and the bees didnt mind it. The glass broke in the winter because the wood expanded due to humidity and it broke the glass, so Im sure the bees could smell it good, but they still came out of the winter unharmed.

EDIT; here you can see how I insulated with raw wool
http://cheguebeeapiary.blogspot.dk/2012/10/the-last-winterising-bits.html

[Astrid]

You are all so helpfull! Thanks! I will give it a wash and go for it!

[Che Guebuddha]

Wash it only with warm water several times. Too hot water will damage the wool. Don't use any cleaning products.

[magger]

Yes, Che is correct, really it is just rinsing the wool. Too hot or too much agitation turns it to felt. However for this purpose a bit of felting doesn't really matter.
Mary

[Paul Reyes]

In my bee farm we've always used raw sheep wool to help with the winter and its always worked well. But make sure that you keep it clean so that it doesn't start to smell and irritate the bees.