Author Topic: Is this cause for concern? (Read 8735 times)

Apis63 · « **on:** July 06, 2016, 10:10:16 pm »

Hey all! Stepped out to get a bite to eat and when I came home, this is what I saw. Hundreds upon hundreds of bees on the outside of the hive entrance. Can you tell me what is happening and what, if anything, I should do?

Wandering Man · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2016, 10:14:39 pm »

Turn on the A/C?

My bees put a beard on the hive most afternoons to keep the temperature inside the hive regulated.

iddee · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2016, 10:26:27 pm »

It is called bearding, and will happen anytime a hive is too strong to keep all members inside and still control the temp.

It's a good thing.

Jen · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2016, 11:22:17 pm »

And it's really neat to go up to the beard and very gently move it just a little, kinda like pet it, it's so soft and warm, and they don't mind

WantToBeeLady · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2016, 02:07:24 am »

I have this going on almost everyday. It's been in the high 80's here, so I thought they were fanning the hive to cool things off. So this is a sign of a strong hive?? I like it 😊

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2016, 05:30:19 am »

Yesterday afternoon I even had one hive starting to collect on the shaded side of the hive. The humidity is thick here.

tedh · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2016, 11:12:10 am »

As stated,a happy healthy hive. It's a good sign, congratulate yourself. Ted

Jen · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2016, 01:29:39 pm »

A question has occured to me:

When you see a huge amount of bearding on the front of one hive... do the girls let the queen out to sunbath on the front porch, or do they make her stay inside the dungeon? Seems to me she would like a nice evening out on the porch as well ~

Wandering Man · « **Reply #8 on:** July 07, 2016, 07:01:23 pm »

Quote from: Jen on July 07, 2016, 01:29:39 pm

A question has occured to me:

When you see a huge amount of bearding on the front of one hive... do the girls let the queen out to sunbath on the front porch, or do they make her stay inside the dungeon? Seems to me she would like a nice evening out on the porch as well ~

She said she'd rather stay inside. She thinks she no longer looks good in her bee-kini.

... All those children, you know ...

Wandering Man · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2016, 07:28:18 pm »

neillsayers · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2016, 12:15:02 am »

Now that's funny I don't care who you are!

Les · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2016, 12:34:45 am »

It has been so hot and humid here, they are staying outside even at night. The one pleasant occurence is my back yard is scented with honey/nectar.

riverbee · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2016, 12:44:50 am »

as others have said apis63, it's bearding and normal. too many bees in the hive, and as iddee said to control and maintain temperature. they will beard or hang out on the 'front porch'. a hive is a controlled temp environment by the bees to maintain a certain temp throughout the year for many reasons.

what is in you boardman feeder? water or sugar syrup?

"A question has occured to me:
When you see a huge amount of bearding on the front of one hive... do the girls let the queen out to sunbath on the front porch, or do they make her stay inside the dungeon? Seems to me she would like a nice evening out on the porch as well ~"

jen, the queen does not go out onto the front porch to sunbathe..............

Apis63 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2016, 12:20:25 pm »

Hey Riverbee, I have a hive that is EXPLODING and one that is just doing ok. Can I put a frame or two from the strong hive into the weaker one? How do I decide which frames to choose? That is sugar syrup in the feeder, by the way. Also, take a look at my newest mistake--put the inner cover on upside down and now I have a cover full of comb with brood. What, if anything, can I do about that?

rcannon · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2016, 09:21:05 pm »

This time of year, if a hive is not boarding I'm concerned. Like others said, it's a good sign of a strong healthy hive.

CBT · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2016, 10:15:22 pm »

Choose a frame without the queen on it.

. Could not resist.

40 Acre Bees · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2016, 11:34:19 pm »

I placed slatted racks on four of my hives this year, and have not seen any bearding at all. On the swarm that we caught with no slatted rack, they have been bearding. Could the slatted racks be helping with the cooling of the hive?

apisbees · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2016, 12:34:25 am »

Use of slated racks. Cooling of the hive or is it that you gave them a place to hang out. Bearding is the bees getting out of the hive as to not disrupt or block the flow of air through the hive. The bees want the heat\need the heat in dehydrating the honey.

Jen · « **Reply #18 on:** July 10, 2016, 01:15:33 am »

"jen, the queen does not go out onto the front porch to sunbathe..............

"

Well I think that is a bunch of Malarkey ...

Les · « **Reply #19 on:** July 10, 2016, 11:00:57 am »

Quote from: 40 Acre Bees on July 09, 2016, 11:34:19 pm

I placed slatted racks on four of my hives this year, and have not seen any bearding at all. On the swarm that we caught with no slatted rack, they have been bearding. Could the slatted racks be helping with the cooling of the hive?

As Robo has said at our meetings, the feral bees have only one opening into their hives. We need to think like the bees.