I use a second inner cover on top of the production colony's inner
cover. It is rim up and entrance notch to the rear. Escape holes are
duct taped to prevent communication between clusters. Also, so frames of
single will hang. Another inner is on top, rim down and notch open
creating "upper" entrance. Allows for good air flow which I think
important. I don't see this upper as being a problem and any escaping
heat to be a significant "loss". All colonies I winter, whether 3 story
production colonies, singles, 4 frame nucs or mating nucs with
mini-frames are handles the same...all have bottom and upper entrances,
and insulation on top. On top of the single's inner is 2"foam sheet.
Production hive gets a full sized wrapper and single gets short one.
Single is the insulation for production colony.
In a recent post I read that the average loss to be expected is
30-50%? Not here. 15% is more like it.
Link to photos of setup:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/WinteringSingles-AboveInnerCover.jpghttp://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/WinteringSingles-Wrapping.jpg
Mike
>>What entrance arrangement do you make for the upper hive?
>
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jeff Hills
>
> Dorset, VT
>
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