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Offline Marion

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What does this mean?
« on: September 11, 2014, 02:05:45 pm »



This is what my bees are doing today. It is humid with off and on light rain. Temperature is 65. I know they are bearding, but does anyone know why?
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Offline Marion

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Re: What does this mean?
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2014, 03:18:34 pm »
I think I found the answer to my question. Since I added a gallon of 2:1 syrup recently it is probably more moist in the hive. The air is full of humidity today. The outside entrance in the inner cover was covered over by the top cover. I just tipped the top cover up in back to expose the small hole in the inner cover and let more ventilation through.
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Offline Riverrat

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Re: What does this mean?
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2014, 04:16:10 pm »
That will work for ventilation. It may or may not stop the bearding.  I like to see a hive beard its a sign of a strong hive
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Offline Perry

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Re: What does this mean?
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2014, 06:26:42 pm »
Interesting bottom board arrangement there. ???
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Offline Marion

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Re: What does this mean?
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2014, 07:31:00 pm »
Hi Perry, The bottom board came this way and I like it. The top one is screened and the bottom one is solid.

It is good for sliding a varroa mite count chart underneath. However, the last time I tried it, I slid the chart under too far and could not safely retrieve it. The bees actually formed paper sculptures out of it and threw it out of the hive. I had to laugh at that one.

Next time I am attaching a string to it so I can pull it out.

I do feel like it is a stong hive, Riverrat
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Offline riverbee

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Re: What does this mean?
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2014, 10:03:58 pm »
"I think I found the answer to my question. Since I added a gallon of 2:1 syrup recently it is probably more moist in the hive. The air is full of humidity today. The outside entrance in the inner cover was covered over by the top cover. I just tipped the top cover up in back to expose the small hole in the inner cover and let more ventilation through."

marion, did you have an additional box on top that you removed to place the 2:1 syrup on top?
the outside entrance of the inner cover, it's about one inch? if covered by the outer cover, it's closed as you figured out.  you did great by tipping the outer cover back to give more ventilation, but as riverrat said, it may or may not stop the bearding, and as he said, a strong hive will beard.

my inner covers, i have notched them all out to 3 inches and use them year round, and i do, or will tip the outer cover back as well.

bearding is a natural occurrence and for many reasons, hive hot/humid/congested/ just hanging out on the front porch where it's cooler.

ps, nice picture of bearding behavior..... ;)
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Offline Barbarian

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Re: What does this mean?
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2014, 12:59:04 am »
Bottom board arrangement.

I have a mild moist climate. I use SBBs 12/12. I find that with a solid floor under the SBB the debris on the floor goes mouldy and may attract wax moths. Most of the time there is nothing under my SBB. The debris falls through the screen and hive stand to the ground.

I am lucky. We don't have SHB or Iddee's cow exchange plants.    ;D
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Offline Marion

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Re: What does this mean?
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2014, 09:23:53 am »
Riverbee, yes I had removed an empty medium that was covering a feeding jar. Then I put on a feeding tray and inner cover. When I put the outer cover on, it covered up the hole in the inner cover. Too much moisture inside.

 Instead of tipping, I decided to put an empty medium over the inner cover to expose the hole. When tipping the outer cover I was worried about rain getting in and robber bees. Everything seems fine now. No bearding today.
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