Joel:
        In the climate where I am, our winter temperatures are frequently very low
for extended periods of time.  It would seem that there would be  a
possibility of bees being unable to reach food before freezing, since they
must cluster around the queen to keep her warm and would have to leave the
cluster for food if there were an excluder present.    I imagine a
situation where the food is all gone below the excluder, and she can not
follow the workers to the food.  The main purpose of food supply over
winter is for  survival, so why take the chance?
 
        Eunice
 
        "From The Cradle of Confederation"
 
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> From: Joel Govostes <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Excluder over winter(?)
> Date: Sunday, September 07, 1997 10:25 AM
>
> 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