IN THE MORNING, SOME BEES ARE ON THE OUTSIDE

[stinger]

IS IT UNUSUAL FOR BEES TO CONGREGATE JUST OUTSIDE THE ENTRANCE IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP? I WAS OUTSIDE BEFORE DAWN TODAY AND SINCE IT WAS STILL A LITTLE DARK, FROM A DISTANCE IT LOOKED AS IF THE ENTRANCE WAS TORN OPEN ABOUT 6 INCHES AROUND THE WHOLE ENTRANCE. MY FIRST THOUGHT IS THAT A CRIITER IN THE NIGHT PRYED OR CHEWED A BIG HOLE IN THE HIVE. WHEN I GOT OVER THERE TO TAKE A BETTER LOOK, THE HIVE WAS NOT DAMMAGED AT ALL! IT WAS A BUNCH OF BEES THAT WERE HANGING OUT ALL AROUND THE ENTRANCE THAT GAVE AN APPEARANCE FROM A DISTANCE OF A LARGE HOLE IN THE HIVE.THEY WERE REALLY STILL- HARDLY MOVING. THE BEES IN MY OTHER HIVE WERE ALL INSIDE THE HIVE. ARE THEY GOING TO SWARM? THEY ARE PACKAGE BEES THAT WERE INSTALLED THIS SPRING. IT IS MY STRONGEST HIVE WITH NO PROBLEMS SO FAR. WHAT'S GOING ON?

[Robert Hawkins]

You are smart to think swarm on this. Sometimes most of the hive will step outside to make things easier for those who maintain the temps in there. Nothing to worry about but it's also a notification to check for swarm conditions. Open up the brood nest. Especially if this is your strongest hive, it could be over full. If so, split.

Hawk

[Sourwood]

That is not out of the ordinary. But like Hawk said, definitely check the brood chamber for congestion.

[power napper]

I agree and also mention this, if your weather was like ours the last week the word is just plain "too hot". The bees were bearded up on the fronts of my hives and also on the exit of my observation hive (the living room window)--sometimes they enjoy the outside porch view better that a over heated hive that is evaporating nectar.

[stinger]

i added another deep to the hives about a month ago. they are a strong colony- i'm a proud mamma! hope they don't swarm and leave. they are in partial shade so i hope they aren't too hot. i have a screened bottom board and took the board part out to give them more ventilation a few weeks ago. thanks for your help -i'm very new at this

[Michael Bush]

The conclusions I would draw depend on the weather and the ventilation in your hives.

[Robert Hawkins]

Stinger, I'm a little scared that you may misinterpret "Open up the brood nest" as add a super. Can you see how a brood nest could be capped by honey. When you have honey on all sides and above the queen could have no place to lay. That's what we mean by honeybound. Sometimes adding another box doesn't cut it cuz she still can't get above the honey. So you may need to do something to the brood nest to make more empty cells. Take out frames of honey, add frames of foundation, move honey frames up to the honey super, or "checkerboard".

Make Sense?

Hawk

[stinger]

robert hawkins
i'll be inspecting today and i'll take your advice. thanks for your help.