Thxs for reply Allen and Randy

As a hobbyst there is a tendency to micro manage and lose sight of wider issue. The bees want a high RH, so long as cold water is not dripping down on them. They have no problem creating high RH spring, summer or fall in my area of Ontario. Winters are dry when it is cold (-15C this morning) and damp when only "cool", around freezing. Being better able to dry out when cool is a point I lost trying to make the hive more efficient for heat retention.

What I am hearing, and thinking now, is that any advantage of heat retention by smaller bottom opening does not offset the advantage of increased warming and drying out on warming days. 

The advantage of only having 8 hives is I can still get to them and swap out the reduced entrances for a more open mouse guard screen before the warming season starts.

Peter

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