Screened bottom board..............

yockey5 · September 07, 2011, 07:37:46 PM

Having never had one of these before I am wondering if they are ok for wintering a colony, or should I change it out for a solid bottom board?

BlueBee · September 07, 2011, 08:09:49 PM

You may get a wide range of opinions on this one!

In cold climates I don't like an open screen bottom because winter wind is going to blow in through the screen and wash out most of the bee's heat.

Michael Bush · September 07, 2011, 10:52:21 PM

I would just slide a tray in. If there isn't one, make one out of coroplast (that stuff the political signs are made of... should be a lot of free material in November...)

indypartridge · September 08, 2011, 07:44:36 AM

Quote from: BlueBee on September 07, 2011, 08:09:49 PM
In cold climates I don't like an open screen bottom because winter wind is going to blow in through the screen and wash out most of the bee's heat.

Open or closed, make sure your hives have windbreaks.

I leave my SBBs open during the winter, but I'm a couple hundred miles south of you. Do as Michael suggests, and and slide in the tray.

VolunteerK9 · September 08, 2011, 12:05:01 PM

I close mine up here as well. I noticed on those bright, sunny colder days (40ish), the hives that had solid bottom boards were active and the SBB's were huddled up tight.

caticind · September 08, 2011, 01:56:20 PM

I leave mine open unless there temps are below freezing AND there is a storm with a lot of wind forecast. Where I live that means I put in a coroplast sheet to close the SBB about 3 days out of the year as part of a general storm-proofing. 100 percent survival last winter. Bees were active at least weekly (they flew in air temps of 45+) all winter.

You are further north, so adjust accordingly. If you have a very good windbreak, you can probably leave them open. If they are at all exposed, you'll want to close it when temps settle in below 40 degrees for the long haul. If it's an outyard or you don't want to be popping the coroplast in and out, go ahead and put it in for the first killing frost.

Kathyp · September 08, 2011, 02:24:03 PM

i close mine. they are only open about 3 months of the year....depending on weather/temps.

derekm · September 08, 2011, 03:10:07 PM

Quote from: yockey5 on September 07, 2011, 07:37:46 PM
Having never had one of these before I am wondering if they are ok for wintering a colony, or should I change it out for a solid bottom board?

Here in the UK we put a super underneath the base to provide a windbreak. The advice being to stop the wind blowing on to the screen but keep it open. But then again we dont have top vents or top entrances in Winter.

BlueBee · September 08, 2011, 04:24:32 PM

In the UK do you leave that bottom super void of material in the winter, or maybe throw in some chaff, fabric, or something to help keep the air still?

BjornBee · September 09, 2011, 08:12:49 AM

Quote from: derekm on September 08, 2011, 03:10:07 PM
Here in the UK we put a super underneath the base to provide a windbreak. The advice being to stop the wind blowing on to the screen but keep it open. But then again we dont have top vents or top entrances in Winter.

Good advice! ;)

derekm · September 09, 2011, 03:34:09 PM

Quote from: BlueBee on September 08, 2011, 04:24:32 PM
In the UK do you leave that bottom super void of material in the winter, or maybe throw in some chaff, fabric, or something to help keep the air still?

I hear the folks leave it void, I wouldnt, I 'd put a 1/2" metal mesh on the bottom of the super. double up on mouse and draft protection.