Randy said he would like to see a discussion of this.

We are in a reasonably severe climate for over wintering bees, and just 100
miles north of here the climate is *very* severe.  While most bees now go
south for the winter, several thousand overwinter in fixed yards (including
all of my 200+ hives) and there are a couple of dozen beekeepers of a
similar size or larger that have procedures they like.

A few still put on an extra box and several inches of wheat or oat straw.
Sometimes over an inner cover with a hole, and sometimes directly on the
top bars.  In the spring the straw is throughly saturated and is thrown on
the ground.  Availability of straw is a real problem and I think there
would be more doing this if straw was more available.

A few use Homosote boards in place of an inner cover.  Put on dry in the
fall, and taken off soaking wet (many pounds heavier) in the spring.

Most have gone to an upper entrance for the winter.  It doesn't take much,
1/4" is plenty, but 1/2" to 1" is also fine.  A major advance in the past
40 years is the realization that this kind of upper entrance will not chill
the cluster enough to do damage, and is a hive lifesaver by venting
moisture.  I also use a 'pillow' (fiberglass stuffed into a plastic bag)
directly on the top bars, as advocated by David Vanderdussen that measures
about 16" x 20", but do not know anyone else who does.

Lloyd

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