On 9-Mar-17, at 9:54 AM, randy oliver wrote:

>   My specific question then is, provided that the hive has heavy
> insulation above, have you run, or do you know of any published
> trials,
> that compared wintering in top-vented vs control unvented colonies?

Hi Randy & All

I don't know of any studies but anecdotal reports from old guys who
used to put an empty deep full of straw (must be wheat straw they
said) on top of the hive to absorb the moisture.  They claimed to
visit the hives more than once throughout the winter to change the
soaking wet straw for dry.  If this wasn't done, the moisture would
drip down on the cluster when things warmed up.  With the black
coreplast winter sleeves & upper entrances we use, the inside of the
sleeve is covered in frost on cold days melting, to run to the ground
outside the hive proper, when the sun hits the hive.

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W

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