Winterizing a top bar hive?

[SweetJoy7]

Hello! We have one top bar hive. This is our first year and we are wondering how we should winterize it. How do you arrange the combs and do you need to put a mouse guard over the entrance? It is a large hive that is 3/4 full with combs dripping with honey! Thank you so so so much!!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Where do you live?
I would put some insulation the length of the top even if it is just a board but some Styrofoam board or bubble wrap covered by boards would work. You can also lean a piece of plywood along the length on the windward side.
Just keeping heat from escaping upward would help. Just make sure the bees can still escape to do cleansing flights on warm days.
Putting some mouse guard on would be a good idea.

 

[SweetJoy7]

Thank you! We live in Colorado and there is insulation in the roof. How should we arrange the bars? Thank you!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm not an expert. I always have trouble keeping colonies alive. But, my advice is to put all of the bars with bees and comb in the center and put divider boards on both ends of the active bars. That will consolidate the stores and give the bees less space to keep warm. Do you feed them through the winter?

 

[SweetJoy7]

No, we don't feed them. Thank you for the advice!!!!!