queen excluder in winter

[yoderski]

Any thoughts about removing a queen excluder in winter?  It seems that if the honey runs out below, the queen is out of luck when everybody else moves up.  Or is that just a theoretical problem?  I have overwintered both ways, but I didn't know if one way is preferable to the other.   As a 2nd year beek, there is a lot of stuff that you don't know...Jon

[Jerrymac]

Any thoughts about removing a queen excluder in winter?  It seems that if the honey runs out below, the queen is out of luck when everybody else moves up.

Seems you already know the answer. Take it out of there.

[TwT]

take it out and put it between the BB and lowest hive body for a mouse guard, then all you use is a entrance reducer and they will be fine, in the early spring take the queen excluder out of the hive!!!

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#winter

[yoderski]

Thanks everyone for your good advice.  I will wait for a warmer day and make the appropriate changes...Jon