Snow, sleet and freezing rain.

[cao]

For those of us that run bottom entrances, how important is it to remove ice and snow blocking the entrance?  Just wondering if the bees could suffocate if blocked for days.  We received several inches of snow followed by a little freezing rain and then a couple more inches of snow.  Most of the entrances are completely covered.

[Ben Framed]

That?s a good question Cao. You folks are really in it!

[Michael Bush]

If it completely blocks everything, of course they need to breath.  If it blocks flying, you often get a nice sunny day after a storm and they may miss a chance for a cleansing flight.  Winters, being unpredictable, they may or may not get another chance before spring.

[cao]

I was out in the snow already, so I went ahead and checked on most of my hives.  Most had openings in the snow and ice piled on the landing boards.  I take that as a good sign that there is a heat source inside.  Even saw a couple bees taking a peek outside. 

[iddee]

Remove it if needed when the temp goes above 43. It will be fine until then if you have proper upper ventilation.

[Kathyp]

I put a piece of plywood in a kind of A-frame in front of the entrance. It keeps the snow from blocking the entrance and it just slides down to the ground. We get horrible ice storms here and the board keeps the ice from the landing board.