Wintering Single or Double Chamber Hives in Manitoba.2nd

This method of wintering hives uses one insulated black wrap that goes over each hive individually. This has got to be the easiest way to winter hives in that, it is very little work. In 4 easy steps the hive is ready for winter.

Take the hive top off.
Slide insulation over hive.
Place insulation on top of the hive
Replace hive top.

There is no heavy lifting, and you can leave the hives in the same place year round. For top insulation I use 2" blue Styrofoam between the inner cover and the hive lid. Single and double chamber hives can be wintered this way.

Winter snow fall builds up in front of the top entrance. Even if it snows shut completely air can still get in and out because the snow is soft and porous.I find that the snow build up makes for a nice wind break from the cold winter winds.

Here is a picture of the top entrance in early winter with hardly any snow on the ground yet. The seam in front provides a fairly good wind protection.

Screw in place to prevent wrap from covering the entrance.

A screw can be used to keep the wrap from completely covering the bottom entrance. I have tried it without the screw with the wrap going down all the way and it works just as well. The bottom entrance can get completely buried in snow without effecting the hive.

Hives are almost completely buried. Snow also acts as a good insulator.

The top entrance remains open even if the snow piles up on top of it. The warm air from the cluster creates air tunnels through the snow and ice.

A typical Manitoba snow cover which can even bury hives in double brood chambers.

Hives snowed in, quietly waiting for the coming of spring.