Screen bottom board question

[Dange]

I am very new to beekeeping, and just received my deluxe kit.  I have a question regarding the screen bottom board while wintering hives. I live in Michigan and was wondering if going into winter if I need to place a solid board in it's place or do you let the sbb alone?
Thanks!

[AllenF]

People do it both ways.   I think most close the bottom up.   Mine are open right now, but I am way south of you.

[Dange]

When is a good time to close them up? Is there a certain temp range?

[Bee-Bop]

In the fall when your doing your winter preperations.

Bee-Bop

[chrissv]

I live in central MA, and we are in the midst of the Snowpocalapse.
I run SBB's in all my hives, and the only thing I do for winter is I put a piece of 1 inch Styrofoam insulation loosely under the SBB, just to cut down the drafts. But I think some air movement is good, and my bees survived.

-- Steven

[T Beek]

There are several schools of thought when it comes to SBB.  I've left them open and have closed them up, and had thriving survivors in both come Spring.  My strongest colony so far (5 years) was without any bottom (just SBB) for three winters, but I closed it this past fall.  I only have one Lang open now and last check they are doing fine. 

That said, I also use Top AND bottom entrances on my Langs which I believe helps alot with condensation.  "My" Hives treated this way have NEVER had moisture issues.  I place 2 inch rigid insulation on tops of all hives.  I had moisture issues BEFORE using top entrances which I beleive provide consistant ventilation. 

I'm very fond of some Beeks in Canada, Ontario and Manitoba specifically (see beeworks .com).  Seek them out for methods used by Beeks who get "real" winters every year.  Hope this was helpful.

thomas

[Michael Bush]

Obviously bees are more hardy than most people think.  Some are trying to put them in a shed or wrap them and others are leaving the bottom open... I close the bottom... I don't put them in a shed... I don't wrap them.

[Finski]

.
Many beekeepers are ready to die for their mesh floors. It is said "modern beekeeper's bottom"  :=()

Mesh floor arived to many countries with varroa control.

In windy place mesh floor may be fatal to hives.

In Canada there was a reseach, does mesh floor kill mites more than solid bottom.
Summer was cold and hives got so bad chalk brood that research was stopped to save the colonies.
Report summary was: "nothing good to say about mesh floor in summer".

[T Beek]

Canada is a BIG Country Finski.  I'm afraid generalisations aren't always helpful or informative, particularly if linked with a specific point of view and being represented as "the Way" to keep bees (or anything for that matter). 

There's lots of Canadian Beeks who use SBB.

thomas

[Finski]

 I'm afraid generalisations aren't always helpful or informative,

Thomas old fart. Every one pick they information what they want and mostly it is such that it supports persons earlier habits.

British Isles is not big country but they say that there everyting is so extraordinary different that no outsider cannot talk about they cave age old systems.  Everything must be "national". They even cannot read European reseaches. It is only 20 miles to Europe.

On another hand, a beekeeper is a race which is allways right. - Even if he has no hives yet, he knows everything.

Draw from that Thomas

[Finski]

.
Do you know that Sahara Desert is as big as USA

[T Beek]

I have no problem admitting that I know nothing for sure or that most times, "I don't know" is the best answer.  I can only relay what works for me and mine and that seems to be ever changing.

thomas

[Finski]

.
People have momory cuts for two reason: stress and dementhy.

If you aske stressed person something, often answer is I don't know.

Dementic person never anwers so. He knows everything.

[Dange]

Thanks eveyone for the advise.

[ONTARIO BEEKEEPER]

  Hello, thought I better chime in since I am from Canada.  In Ontario winters are not as harsh as Alberta and the other central provinces.  But we still often can get weeks at a time with -25 or colder. 

  A few years ago I built about 25 SBB's to give them a try.  I've had no issue with them killing the bees during the cold.  I built them with a drawer that pulls out to check the bottom. For winter I do nothing except make sure the door is closed.

  I find them very handy for checking mite levels.
 If I ever built more I would be very careful to make sure the door has no tiny openings anywhere. Seems wax moths can get in through the smallest crack.

[T Beek]

  Hello, thought I better chime in since I am from Canada.  In Ontario winters are not as harsh as Alberta and the other central provinces.  But we still often can get weeks at a time with -25 or colder. 

  A few years ago I built about 25 SBB's to give them a try.  I've had no issue with them killing the bees during the cold.  I built them with a drawer that pulls out to check the bottom. For winter I do nothing except make sure the door is closed.

  I find them very handy for checking mite levels.
 If I ever built more I would be very careful to make sure the door has no tiny openings anywhere. Seems wax moths can get in through the smallest crack.

Hey thanks ONTARIO BEEKEEPER.  Is that minus 25 C or F? 

thomas