Can the screen in a screened bottom board be left open all winter?

[Finski]

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Frameshift.

I started with 3 longhives but I burned them 45 years ago. So did other beekeepers too here.
Longhive was the most popular hive here 50 years ago.

Impossible to migrate.
Bees have difficulties to handle horizontal space. So say guys here.

[FRAMEshift]

.
Frameshift.

I started with 3 longhives but I burned them 45 years ago. So did other beekeepers too here.
Longhive was the most popular hive here 50 years ago.

Impossible to migrate.
Bees have difficulties to handle horizontal space. So say guys here.

Perhaps the problem is that you didn't use dry sugar?   :evil: :evil: :evil:

I think you are correct.  The bees don't migrate the broodnest in winter in a horizontal space.  Instead they have to move the stores from the honey section to the broodnest.  This works ok if you have only brief periods (1 to 2 weeks at a time)  when the temperature stays below 40F.   On the other hand, in a long hive the bees are always right at the top so they don't lose heat to areas higher up, as is the case in a Langstroth.  Both types of hives can have problems with sudden cold weather when the broodnest gets trapped in a place without food. 

[VolunteerK9]

I close mine. I have no scientific data to back anything up, but it seemed to me the ones that were closed had earlier activity on warmer days and quicker Spring buildup. The ones that remained open were slow to come out. If you have a couple of hives, do a side by side comparison to judge for yourself. Mine are already closed up here.

[D Coates]

I leave them wide open year round here.

Have you done a comparison with closed bottoms as far as how much honey they consume during the winter?

Honestly no.  The first year I had them open.  After a month of winter so I closed them up, thinking there was no way they could survive otherwise.  Within a few days there was water/ice on the bottom board.  On the warmer days the hives definately responded more slowly.  I removed the bottom boards and haven't put them back.  This year I've got +12 nucs (some single some double) and more than half do not have SBB's that I'll be over wintering.  It will be interesting to see how they compare for survival and stores consumption.  I'm not above changing my practices if my evidence indicates I should do so.

[Finski]

Honestly no.  The first year I had them open.  After a month of winter so I closed them up, thinking there was no way they could survive otherwise.  Within a few days there was water/ice on the bottom board.  On the warmer days the hives definately responded more slowly.  I removed the bottom boards and haven't put them back.  This year I've got +12 nucs (some single some double) and more than half do not have SBB's that I'll be over wintering.  It will be interesting to see how they compare for survival and stores consumption.  I'm not above changing my practices if my evidence indicates I should do so.

you live in Missouri?  
i can see from google that youhave snow in winter.
How long it stays on ground when it rains?

[D Coates]

It can stick a good 5 minutes, or be there for 6 weeks.  My hives sit on cinder blocks and I've yet to have the snow clog the front entrance, even though I do have an upper entrances just in case it does.

[rail]

.
Frameshift.

I started with 3 longhives but I burned them 45 years ago. So did other beekeepers too here.
Longhive was the most popular hive here 50 years ago.

Impossible to migrate.
Bees have difficulties to handle horizontal space. So say guys here.

Perhaps the problem is that you didn't use dry sugar?   :evil: :evil: :evil:

I think you are correct.  The bees don't migrate the broodnest in winter in a horizontal space.  Instead they have to move the stores from the honey section to the broodnest.  This works ok if you have only brief periods (1 to 2 weeks at a time)  when the temperature stays below 40F.   On the other hand, in a long hive the bees are always right at the top so they don't lose heat to areas higher up, as is the case in a Langstroth.  Both types of hives can have problems with sudden cold weather when the broodnest gets trapped in a place without food. 

1) Would installing a medium or shallow super over the nest with stores help?

2) Would deeper frames and hive body as the National Deep (14"x12") or the Golden Hive provide sufficient stores over the nest for winter?

[FRAMEshift]

1) Would installing a medium or shallow super over the nest with stores help?

Maybe.  But adding a little dry sugar takes care of the problem and it's easy to do.

2) Would deeper frames and hive body as the National Deep (14"x12") or the Golden Hive provide sufficient stores over the nest for winter?

There's plenty of room in a long hive with deep or medium frames for all the food the bees could possibly need.  The issue is getting that food to the broodnest.    The honey on a brood frame is stored in a 2 inch band across the top.  Making the frame deeper will not mean more honey on the brood frame.