Inspection board in or out over winter?

[King Scavenger]

Hi my friends, again!!
Do I take out the inspection board out, for the winter? I have seen various ideas about leaving it in and taking it out

 

[For want of a better word]

Leave them in all year... saves them from getting lost!

Nos da

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

leave them in the shed all year, save them getting lost or dirty

 

[BrianO]

Now you're asking, and you will get 1/3 IN, 1/3 OUT and 1/3 Don't Know

I am in the " IN "brigade, given the windy island we reside on I think to leave out and have the bees subjected to howling winds through the hive is not conducive to happy overwintering bees !

 

[pargyle]

Put them in, take them out, clean them, put them in, take them out, clean them. put them .... well, you get the idea !

It can tell you a lot about what your bees are up to in winter .. the debris will tell you where in the hive they are and you can see where they are uncapping stores .. but you do need to clean them off as otherwise the debris will accumulate. I also like to see a fairly big drop between the mesh floor and the inspection board (50mm at least) which also means that you need some sort of tray or skirt under the hive. So ... mine allow some protected ventilation beneath the hive but shelter from draughts.

 

[BrianO]

Definitely need regular cleaning, failure to do so results in mould growth, not good hygiene

 

[REDWOOD]

out--------ish

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Put them in, take them out, clean them, put them in, take them out, clean them. put them .... well, you get the idea !

It can tell you a lot about what your bees are up to in winter .. the debris will tell you where in the hive they are and you can see where they are uncapping stores .. but you do need to clean them off as otherwise the debris will accumulate. I also like to see a fairly big drop between the mesh floor and the inspection board (50mm at least) which also means that you need some sort of tray or skirt under the hive. So ... mine allow some protected ventilation beneath the hive but shelter from draughts.

The subject was extensively debated in the thread How do you Overwinter Your Bees - Beekeeping Forum search function.

www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=35280

 

[Millet]

I have mentioned this and read threads mentioning it and after a bit of thought i will be leaving it in BUT slightly pulled out just enough so the rain does not run down the outer insulation and into the tray.

 

[snelgrove]

mine are all left out with crown boards insulated. small entrance mouseguard protection

 

[Thymallus]

The bees will probably survive whatever you do. But, there are inspection boards, like the yellow ones that come with the trhrones floors that are pretty flimsy and can get blown out. Or there are the thick Corex Pains ones that are a snug fit. The best of all are those old wooden solid floors....you don't need to clean them at frequent intervals.

 

[Swarm]

^
And the rain won't drive into them.

 

[user 6228]

if you leave them in remember to seal up the back where the board is inserted, otherwise the board can increase the draft if the wind is in the wrong direction.