In one of his recent beekeeping books, Ron Brown (of Devon) recommends
overwintering in one brood box plus a full honey super, with *excluder*
between. This way no brood ever ends up in the food super, maintaining
clean combs, and the bees have a good portion of honey situated directly
above them where it is most useful.
 
Now, it is more commonly stated that excluders should *not* be left in
position during winter, as the queen could become isolated below, and then
the colony would lose her as the cluster moved upward.
 
Have any BEE-L'ers out there overwintered in such fashion, intentionally or
by accident?  Ever actually had queens deserted below an excluder in this
way?
 
Just never have heard any actual accounts of this happening.  It would seem
that any cluster worth overwintering would likely extend from the food
super down through the excluder and into the brood chamber, so the queen
would not be "left behind."
 
Any comments appreciated
 
Over and out
 
jg