Jay asks "Does everyone leave them on all year no matter the climate or do
you put standard bottom boards on during the winter?
If you leave them on throughout the winter, how high off the ground should
the hive be? Should you shelter the space from the hive to the ground?"

I don't know about "everyone", but I leave them on all year, and personally
know of two others who do likewise.  Between us, many hundreds of hives are
so involved (I have 75).  With temperatures of -20F, and sometimes snow
completely covering the hives, there is no noticeable damage.  All hives
have generous upper entrances.

I use hive stands, with hives approximately 10" above the ground.  The two
others use pallets, so hives are about 4" above ground level.  With hive
stands there is no shelter from the hive to the ground.  With pallets, there
is some shelter.  I don't believe it makes a difference.

I strongly believe...in this climate or warmer...that COLD DOES NOT HURT
BEES!  In climates such as Minnesota and inland Canada that may not be true.
(I don't know.)

I use standard 3/8" openings and a "landing board" of about 1.5".  the
landing board is almost certainly unnecessary, but I like seeing the bees.
Lloyd
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Lloyd Spear Owner, Ross Rounds, Inc.  The finest in comb honey production.
Visit our web site at http://www.rossrounds.com.