A friend lost one of his hives over the winter (Canada). He thinks it is
because "the bottom board is 3/4" deep, instead of a bee space (3/8" or
so), so dead bees piled up there during the times when they couldn't get
out. I think the smell overpowered the hive and the cluster lost
cohesion."
As a new beekeeper, I am trying to learn whatever I can. Is there any
merit
to this theory? It seems to me that having more space between the hive
body
and the bottom board will encourage bridge comb, not the loss of the hive
over winter, but being new to this, I cannot be certain.
Thanks.
GP