Why would I want to have one box instead of two then.
Just a question.
The wintering hive should be restricted to the size of winter cluster. It the colony has one fox full of brood frames, it is enough to the colony.
If you have extra space in winter, bees generate moisture and it condensates inside the cold hive. Frames get mold and the food suck moisture.
Bees need to eate morre when the heat escpaes to empty space.
I wonder why the hive should have 2 box if one box enough?
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I try to have 2 box wintering hives but it it is one box, it is. This autumn they seem to have one box wintering, because it it dry here and bees have now only one box full of brood. To 2 box winterin the hive need now 1,5 box brood = 13-15 brood frames. Now there are 7-8 frames.
It is brood area size which rules the size of wintering hive.But I need to join many hives before winter feeding. I feed on average 20 kg sugar to bees and I take almost all honey away.
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