Wintering - Anyone Doing Nothing to the Hives?

[Adam Foster Collins]

I'm wondering if anyone in an area with a hard winter has tried or practices making no alteration to the hive for winter? No wrap; no insulation. Maybe an entrance reduction of some kind - but nothing else substantial. If so, how long have you been doing this minimal approach, and how has your success been?

Thanks,

Adam

[Finski]

.
I have done 20 years in Finland. Food consumption was 50% more than in insulated hives.
Dead outs happened guite often. Typical was that the cluster was upstairs and  15 kg food downstairs and cluster died over food store. In warm hive it is easy to cluster to move after food. In cold hive they are like in prison.

The most importand was spring build up and when hives were ready to forage real yield.


Dead or alive is not important  at all in wintering. More important is when the hives are strong enough catch a good yield. Loosing queens is one problem or nosema spoils the laying ability.  Heating with electrict has a big influence on these things which tell that heat is more than valuable.

Bees have born in Africa. They need warm conditions. They survive in arctic condition only by the help of human.

[Adam Foster Collins]

Thank you for your reply, Finski,

What are the average winter lows like for you there?

Our average January temp is 29.8F or -4C, with average lows of 15.8F or -9C. We get a lot of temperature fluctuation as well with wet, windy weather common throughout the winter.

Adam

[rdy-b]

http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/weatherinscandinavia/ss/weatherfinland.htm

[Adam Foster Collins]

A little colder winters than us. Pretty similar overall. But a little warmer in the summer...

Adam

[Michael Bush]

I tried wrapping once, and the condensation and moisture seemed not only hard on the bees, but hard on the equipment.  I do nothing.  No wrapping.