hive weight - fall 2018 to spring 2019

I'm using an inexpensive luggage scale to weigh 4 box tall hives.  I attached the ends of a length of parachute cord to the front legs of my hive stand, then I pass the central part of the cord beneath the hive and towards the back of the hive.  This forms a V shape of cord beneath the hive.  I slowly pull on the cord with the luggage scale until the back edge of the bottom board slightly rises above the hive stand.

Scale readings are converted to total hive weight using a factor of 1.825 which I estimated using an unoccupied stack of 4 boxes with a similar total hive weight.

In the graph note:

• Hives loose weight between 30-Sep-2018 and 22-Dec-2018.  Hive #1 looses more weight than hive #2.
• No measurements during winter.
• On 24-Mar-2019 hive #1 gains more weight than hive #2.

Fall weight loss is greater for hive #1 which is most likely attributed to its larger population compared to hive #2.  Said another way, hive #1 consume their honey stores more rapidly due to a larger population.

During the winter, these hives are insulated with Bee Cozy hive wraps and I don't disturb the bees with hive weight measurements.

In a similar explanation, greater spring weight gain for hive #1 is most likely attributed to hive #1 having a larger population compared to hive #2.