tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179175609325731568.post4887344828236178056..comments2024-03-03T16:53:00.449-08:00Comments on Honeydrunk Apiares: Overwintering Experiment – Winter 2013 commiskazehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07512054367758849771noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179175609325731568.post-43024371401853267002016-12-02T13:40:55.315-08:002016-12-02T13:40:55.315-08:00Here in Ontario the snow usually gets up high enou...Here in Ontario the snow usually gets up high enough (note should buy snow shoes for winter) it will insulate them. Bees do not commonly die cold, but damp will kill them in a heart beat. Mine always have a vented inner cover. I do experience losses, and probably will this spring due to a warm autumn.commiskazehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07512054367758849771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179175609325731568.post-87598026020487085952016-06-17T05:46:49.990-07:002016-06-17T05:46:49.990-07:00Regarding screened bottom boards (SBB), what was y...Regarding screened bottom boards (SBB), what was your setup for upper ventilation? Here in Iowa, we get bitterly cold -10 to -20's F up to 50's and 60's F during the winter months. <br />These large fluctuations in winter temps make beekeeping challenging to say the least.<br />I find using SBB's with the inner cover flipped in the winter position provides an upper entrance as well as an exit for any condensation via a chimney effect. I use 2" pink Styrofoam on top as well. <br />I have also gone one step further by building what I call a ventilation shim: a 2" high board with 1/2" holes drilled on each side (3 holes on the long sides and 2 on shorter ones spaced evenly). The holes are covered with window screen to keep ants and wax moths out in the summer. <br />I also wrap the hives, but gave up on the hassle of roofing paper years ago. Instead, I use heavy duty landscape fabric which I wrap twice. A few staples to secure it, and one just below the upper entrance, and I'm done. SO much easier!<br />I leave the shims on all year long. My bees stay dry in winter and work less to stay cool in summer. In fact, I no longer see any mold in my hives.<br /><br />Dennis K.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com