Hi again,
Hopefully I'll be able to help someone out in a few years much like you've helped me!
I've been reading different posts and have found that some people actually wrap hives in winter. Is this necessary in colder climates? or is it just a personal choice? What about having a solid bottom.
The specs call for a #8 screen as the hive bottom but I don't know what climate this would be for.
With that open bottom screen I can't imagine the bees having any chance at staying warm in our winter. In Dec, Jan and Feb it is common to have temps in -20's and well into the -30's with wind chills at times and -40 being the extreme.
I am wondering if I should be building my hives with solid bottoms. The other extreme is the summer heat, which would be similar to almost anywhere else in the USA.
Any thoughts?