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Astrid House Bee
Joined: 21 Jan 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Oslo, Norway
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:31 pm Post subject: Sheep wool insulation? |
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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? |
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magger Nurse Bee
Joined: 30 Mar 2012 Posts: 26 Location: UK East Sussex, Hailsham
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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Che Guebuddha Golden Bee

Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1551 Location: Hårlev, Stevns Kommune, Denmark
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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Astrid House Bee
Joined: 21 Jan 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Oslo, Norway
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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You are all so helpfull! Thanks! I will give it a wash and go for it! |
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Che Guebuddha Golden Bee

Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1551 Location: Hårlev, Stevns Kommune, Denmark
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 6:21 am Post subject: |
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Wash it only with warm water several times. Too hot water will damage the wool. Don't use any cleaning products. |
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magger Nurse Bee
Joined: 30 Mar 2012 Posts: 26 Location: UK East Sussex, Hailsham
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:10 am Post subject: |
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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 |
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Paul Reyes Nurse Bee
Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 26 Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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