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Rank: Field Bee
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/18/2008
Posts: 33
Points: 8
Location: Boise
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I've read that hives need to be vented to some extent during winter. All my hive bodies have a 7/8th inch hole just above the carry handle on the front. Should i plug one/both holes? One article suggested popsicle sticks between boxes.
What are people doing for winter venting?
Thanks,
Jon
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Rank: Field Bee
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/23/2008
Posts: 40
Points: 113
Location: Boise, ID
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Jon-
For winter - sometime after the bees are less active - reducing the entry to 3" wide or so will help keep out mice (a very real problem around here). The vent in the top probably is most important for venting water vapor in the winter. While touring Montana after a heavy snow year, I've seen where the vent hole also provides an alternate entrance when snow covers the bottom of the hive.
I'd advise reducing the entrance, leaving the upper hole open - both beginning sometime in October and keeping the popsicle sticks in the freezer.
Steve
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Rank: Field Bee
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/18/2008
Posts: 33
Points: 8
Location: Boise
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Thanks Steve.
Last year i used the 1 inch side on the entrance reducer, I'll try the 3 inch side through winter. Also i heard to put the open side up. Too many dead bees in the hive will clog the entrance if the open side is down.
Jon
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Rank: Field Bee
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/23/2008
Posts: 40
Points: 113
Location: Boise, ID
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Jon-
The opening hole above the hand hold on the top super gets around the problem a clogged entrance. I use a 1" dia hole, open in Winter and then plug it with a champagne cork spring through fall. Alternatively, you can use short stubs of 1" dowel - long enough so you can get a grip on the plug to remove it for Winter use. It seems odd to stick a hole up top in a super, but you'll reap the benefits in the Spring.
Steve
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Rank: Field Bee
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/23/2008
Posts: 40
Points: 113
Location: Boise, ID
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Yo, TV Beeks- Attached is an image demonstrating the benefit of the drilled top entry hole. The lower entry is snowed shut, while the upper is open. This entry allows the venting of winter moisture. Also, once the weather warms enough for flight, the bugs will have an entry above the snow. Steve File Attachment(s):
 TheReasonForATopSuperHole-13Dec09.JPG (1,399kb) downloaded 27 time(s).
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