On 1-Nov-15, at 10:41 AM, randy oliver wrote:

>
> In your cold climate, one would certainly expect that there would  
> need to
> be a minimum cluster size to maintain thermoregulation.  Your 5  
> seams may
> be that minimum.  Are you wintering outdoors or in a temp controlled  
> shed?

Hi Randy and All

My hives are all in single deeps, except some 4 over 4 nucs, and are  
wintered outdoors.  I live in a deep valley and am thus protected from  
the NW winds which are the norm here throughout the winter.  In spite  
of the cold winds and lake effect snow, most hives in south central  
Ontario are wintered outdoors as far as I know.  U of Guelph(30  
minutes from me) have an indoor wintering facility for nucs.

I asked this list, several years ago, what to do with hives having  
less than 5 seams in late November early December when I do my oxalic  
treatment.  Allen Dick, then active on Bee-L, responded with his method.

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W

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