Bearding

[CWBees]

What does bearding tell you about a hive?

I have a hive with heavy bearding on the front. The second hive body has not been drawn out yet but there are plenty of bees. I have removed a couple frames of brood from the hive to give to a hive I requeened and was weak. This should help decrease the number of bees in this in the heavy bearding hive. The nectar flow has dropped off and I want to help the bees draw out comb so I have been feeding the bees.

[BjornBee]

Could be signs of swarm preparations, or a sign that the hive is too warm. Bearding in April, May and the beginning of June is cause for checking swarm probability. Bearding the rest of the summer is usually hot conditions. When it gets to a certain temperature, someone yells out "Hey everybody its too hot in here, everybody out!"

Upper entrances and perhaps adding an extra super can sometimes help. But when it gets above 90, thats what bees do.

[Patrick Scannell]

I've gotten the bearded bees to go in (sometimes) by giving them lots of ventilation, (screened bottom board and a top entrance) and by putting a box of foundation under the brood nest.

[Michael Bush]

>What does bearding tell you about a hive?

It's well populated and/or poorly ventilated and/or the weather is hot and/or they are out of space.

If I make sure they have space and ventilation then I don't worry about it.