shelter

[beekeeperookie]

I was wondering for the winter time could you use a shelter of some sort to surround your hives?  Like a tent or canapoy? Or would this confuse there tempature system inside the hive?  I have a greenhouse could you put the hives in there and leave the windows prop so they can move in and out of the greenhouse?  Just curious if you could do this so you cant loose you hives

[Michael Bush]

Indoor wintering is a tricky proposition.  I would research it THOROUGHLY before I trie to undertake it and then I would experiment with a limited number of hives until you have a viable system.  Indoor wintering, if done poorly, can easily kill all of your hives.

I have left mine unwrapped with no shelter in places like Laramie WY (7200 ft.) with very long cold winters and no ill effects.

[Brian D. Bray]

I would not recommend attempting to winter bees inside without researching how it's been done in the plains of Canada or more northerly countries like Norway, Finland & Sweden, and Russia, where attempts at large scale indoor wintering have been attmepted.
If subjected to extreme windy conditions the erection of a wind break might be advisable but I don't think indoor storage is necessary, even in those areas where it's been tried.

[Finsky]

Michael is right. If inside wintering place has too small ventilation bees will be very sick after winter.  BUT with good ventilation results are fine.

In my are hives mange out spended if hive has at least one box full of bees. If hive has only 5 frames  occupied by bee it needs extra care.  I have styrofoam deeps during winter.

2-box hives are difficult to move alone. I just could lift them to new basis.  And carry hives back in snow to their places for cleasing flight is another job.