Hi Alvin:

I normally winter doubles. The vent hole is only in the bottom one. For most 
of my hives I group them in a line of five and pull them tight together and 
surround them with 1" styrofoam. On top they have an insulated inner cover 
( 1" styrofoam encased in 1/4" plywood) a 2'' thick sheet of styrofoam 
covering all 5 hives and a 1/4" plywood weather cover.

I believe this works here because the winters here are so dry. I doubt that 
it would work in a more humid environment. I have observed them through a 
clear plastic lid set up and it seems that a lot of the water condenses on 
the walls and does not wet the cluster. We end up with a lot of hard 
granulated canola honey here and the water may be helping them to soften it 
for food.

Part of the rational for top entrances is to provide  ventilation when the 
regular bottom board entrance is plugged with snow, ice or dead bees. The 
hole 3" up in the bottom super is kept open by the bees who seem to cluster 
mainly around and above it.



Best Regards

Donald Aitken, Edmonton Alberta

53° 41' 51" N 113° 37' 32" W
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