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What Edward said
two years agho Edward wrote :
Interesting !
How big or small is your summer/winter ventilation ? Width , height ,, diameter ?
I would assume that if you had a small ventilation hole/gap in the roof area , and if the bees din not think it was a good idea they would fill it with propolis.
Most of the bee keepers I know have no ventilation up top and a lot of ventilation in the bottom in wintertime.
Under their active season the bees should bee able to ventilate the hive to the climate they seem fit.
When they have gone into winter hibernation and are in a cluster it is not possible for them to adjust there in hive climate as effectively.
mvh edward
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I live in Sweden most beekeepers here use polystyrene hives , I have a college that has a poly hive that is 30 years old , probably needs a new coat of paint
The poly hive is light weight , easy to move , = spares your back = can keep beekeeping when your old and frail , or if you're Young and not so strong.
Warm in the winter , spring ,for brood. It also insulates against heat in the summer sun
Ventilation is a little backwards.
Spring and summer fall reduce the bottom ventilation , = earlier start for brood , easier for young bees to sweat wax , draw comb.
In the winter open the ventilation over the bottom of the hive ventilates condensation lets air in despite of dead bees.
edward
That habit is so called "modern". A mesh floor open in winter and no upper entrance.
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