ImkerinLena · Bavaria, DE · Gear · Jun 3, 2026
Top vs bottom entrance for winter — settled question or still debated?
Cold-climate keepers, what's your winter entrance setup? I've read everything from "leave a top entrance for ventilation" to "top entrance = heat loss disaster".
Average low here is –10°C with occasional –20°C snaps.
#winter#ventilation#gear
▲ 31 votes
💬 4 replies
SkaneBees · Jun 3, 2026
Top entrance, every time, in serious cold. Moisture is what kills colonies, not cold. A small upper entrance lets the wet warm air escape before it condenses on the inside of the cover and drips back on the cluster.
HokkaidoHachi · Jun 3, 2026
Hokkaido keeper here. We use bottom entrance + insulated cover + ventilation channel through the top board. Top entrance is too cold during cluster, but the channel lets moisture escape.
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