[jhrusky]

On over wintering the bees, is it best to replace that bottom .5"x.5" entrance reducer with the hole UP ____|----|____ or DOWN ----|____|---- ?

 

[jhrusky]

Actually, I don't like those tiny entrances created by entrance reducers. Not enough ventilation for northern apiaries. My bees stay drier with a wide open bottom entrance with a 1/2" hardware cloth wedge for mouse protection, and a small upper entrance.

Any possibility of a picture of what you mean about the hardware cloth, Michael? I'm in Wisconsin so that qualifies for 'northern' I think