Screen Bottom Boards

[keito]

Should you go back to solid boards in the winter?

[Hemlock]

Here in Virginia i close mine each Winter but i know a few people who leave them open.  You don't have to take them off.  You can closed them with a fitted piece of corrugated plastic or piece of wood.  Looks like your in Hardiness Zone 7b.  I'm in Zone 7a so your slightly warmer.

[Joe D]

I got started beek the middle of Dec. put SBB on then, this year is supposed to be colder.  If it looks like going to get to cold will put a board under BB.I am alittle farther south than you.



Joe

[BlueBee]

This is one of those questions where everybody will have a different answer for you.  I have solid bottoms in the winter (in Michigan) to attempt to trap a little more of the bees heat when the temps dip below 0F.  That is not going to be such a big problem in MS since it doesn’t get that cold down there, but you can certainly get some wet damp weather in the winter and that is an argument some make for leaving the bottom open all winter.  Cold and wet is a bad combination for the bees.  When there is no clear answer to the dilemma’s in bee keeping I generally error in favor of nature.  Do bees have open bottoms in trees?

[Intheswamp]

keito, what type of hive stands are you using?  Does your screened bb sit "elevated" above your hive stand by the rails on each side of the bottom board?  This might form a ledge that would hold a sheet of some thin (plywood, plastic, hardboard, cardboard, etc) material.  Those ugly election signs made from coroplast are popping up everywhere and will be until after the election and they make great stickyboards, panels to seal off screened bottom boards, etc.,.they sure do clutter up the roadside, too!  8-)

Actually, the seal at the bottom doesn't have to be perfect...a little gap here and there would probably help with ventilation/moisture.  But, if you use something thin like coroplast and you wanted a better seal you could glue a strip of .25 square wood across each end of the coroplast to help cut reduce wind from blowing in...slip the coroplast in with the wood strip on the bottom...you could put rails down the side of the coroplast as for as that goes to make a very rigid insert.  I think just a piece without the wood would work good, though.

Here's a shot of what I'm talking about regarding the space between the bottom board and hive stand.  This is a shot where I'm experimenting with a roughly made oil tray...

Best wishes,
Ed

[keito]

Thanks