Screen bottom in winter time

[Myron Rotruck]

I have my hive set on a iron pole about 2 ft off the ground, with a oil trap around the pole to keep out unwanted pest like ants. But all I have on the bottom of my hive is a screen bottom, I mean I can get down under the hive and look up and see though the screen what is going on in the hive. My question is this going to be OK to leave it this way this winter open on the bottom or should I put something underneath the hive to keep out draft and maybe a little of the cold. The colony is not very big at all, and I noticed that a few of the bees were already dead on the bottom of the screen. Need a little advice. Thanks

[Jerrymac]

Bees die not because of the weather or anything else. Just old age. They will be in the hive bottom. I don't believe Arkansas would get cold enough to worry about the SBB. People up in BC Canada keeps them open all winter.

[amymcg]

Complete agreement with Jerry -  In fact one of my suppliers leaves some of them open in the winter with no adverse affects and we can get pretty cold up here.  Ventilation is good.

[Michael Bush]

Up in the air will get more wind won't it?  I'd close it at least partially.  They don't need that much ventilation.

[newbee101]

I agree with Michael, all that cold wind cant be good. 1 or 2 inches open should be more than enough ventilation.

[Diver]

Assuming a normal design for the OMF and being on a pole wind would be a problem. The warmth of the hive could be sucked out as the wind blows across the bottom. I would suggest a skirt to a depth of at least 4" be added to lessen the effect, an old super possibly?

[Rich V]

My hives  set on stands one foot off the ground. I run a skirt of ply wood around the stands to keep the wind out during the winter. We get alot of high winds,and I figure its a safety precaution.

Rich V.