>I was going to put an entrance reducer on both, with the largest opening, the bottom to help keep out mice and the top to help keep out rain. What do you think?
How cold is it where you are? Probably a top entrance is irrelevant as long as you don't have skunk problems. I like #4 hardware cloth to keep the mice out.
> Regarding the small cell, I think Micheal is saying that trying to use two sizes of foundation is too limiting and too hard to administer.
Well, I'm saying it's harder.
> Next spring I want to checkerboard the hive to prevent swarming and I would like to use the small cell for some of the empty frames.
When they are drawing comb to store honey they are reluctant to draw small cells. When they are drawing brood comb is when they want the smaller cells.
> How many of the small cell should I use to begin the regression do you think?
I'd feed them in as you can with the plan to be to replace it all. I'd have enough on hand to replace it all and go from there.
> I planned to do this this coming weekend.
Reduce the entrances? Not regression, I hope.
> I'll message you about getting together to look at the hive. I'd like to know if I left out something important in preparing for the winter.
Do you have any excluders on?
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#winter