overwintering w/screened hive bottoms

[tonyriverhills]

A few years ago, I bought some blown plastic hive bodies which came with screened bottoms for mite control. I've got eight hives and no mites at least at a problem causing level. I've lost two hives per winter the last two years...the two with the open bottoms! I know these hives are said to be just dandy for overwintering, but how can that really be true? Common sense says they're going to get frigid in the Pennsylvania winter and that killed them. Maybe it would be ok just to slip a piece of plywood inside the hive over the screen?

[RayMarler]

Hot air rises, cold air sinks, so the screen bottoms in this respect should not be an issue for over wintering. The condensation moisture inside the hive in winter conditions is not as big of issue with screened bottoms as the water flows right out the bottom screen.

Breezes and winds are another matter, they could cause cold air to move up into the hive, I would imagine, in an open screen bottom. Puting a piece of plywood over the screen or leaving the sticky board in over winter might be an option.

[Michael Bush]

Mine came with corrugated plastic trays (like the stuff the political signs are made of). I put them in from the first hard freeze until I see them bearding in the early summer or late spring. It gets very cold here and we got some howling (60 mph) winds sometimes (as evidenced both by the weather service and by how often shingles blow off my roof). If I lived somewhere warmer or calmer, MAYBE I'd consider leaving them out. Maybe not. There is always some air leaking around the edges and I think that is adequate ventilation with a reduced top entrance.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

If you get enough snow cover to cover the bottom of your hives all winter then the trays would be of little value. Here we get very little accumulated snow and the cold wind is ferocius at times so we need to have the trays in.

[Dan Williamson]

I have left SBB's open all winter. They survive fine.. However, they were usually my slowest colonies to build up come spring. Placing something to block the drafts especially in early spring seemed to really help reduce the stress on the small clusters trying to kickstart brood rearing in the spring.

[Troy]

I have to say I agree with Dan. I'm in Florida, and it doesn't even get that cold here. Maybe it is the moisture here.

If I put solid bottoms on in the winter and leave them on until the flow begins in early March, my bees are stronger and more plentiful for the Orange Blossom flow.

So all I know is that blocking the bottom (or temporarily switching to a solid bottom) sure helps kick start them in the spring.

[mudlake]

I have used plexi glass it is cheap and thin. Now you can buy the unbreakable stuff. Tony