Maybe I'm babying them too much

[Jamie D]

Hi everyone.
This is about my entrances. I have tried to find a definitive answer to this by doing a forum search, but to no avail. I have 2 hives with 2 medium deeps and just added a super to each on Wednesday. They are both thriving and healthy colonies (packages installed May 12th) I am still feeding them a monitored amount each day as I hope they build out the supers (?) and am using Boardman style feeders. I had opened their entrances about 5 weeks ago from the smallest opening, and now an debating taking the next piece of the entrance off. That would leave the feeder. I think they are ready to defend, in fact, one of the hives was bearding pretty heavily yesterday; that (Shirley's) hive seems to be slightly larger in number than Lavern's. I did ventilate with popsicle sticks under the inner covers about 2 weeks ago. It has been 95-102 here lately. So, off with the entrance reducer?

[jamneff]

I would take the feeder off. If you keep the feeder on then the honey that they are storing will not really be honey. As far as the entrance reducer goes if the bees are bumping into each other trying to get in and out then its time to remove them. One other thing you might want to add a third med deep to the hives, this is the equavalent to 2 deeps. Just a thought. Good luck

[Jamie D]

The reason I'm apprehensive about removing the feeders is that it was so stressed in the books about establishing strong hives. I want to take your advice. They have been so eager at feeding time! Just newbie jitters. I guess I'll reduce entrance less.

Wean, or just quit with the feeding all together?

Just to be clear, Bearding is when they are all piled up on top of each other, right? I will try to post pics. Thought I was more savvy with my phone than I actually am.

[RiodeLobo]

Bearding is when a whole bunch of them are hanging out on the hive, usually the front, and looks kinda like a ZZ Top beard, thus the name. I have my 3 package colonies open to 50%, they were started the middle of April. With my other 5 open all the way and a commercial guys yard 1/4 mile away (about 30 hives) the only robbing that I am aware of was when I foolishly opened them all the way last month. One of them did get hammered pretty hard, but at 50% no more issues.

[sfisher]

How are hives Lenney and Squiggy doing?

[Jamie D]

Well, since I named them after the "queens" I'd have to say sadly we have no Lenny and Squiggys. However, We may do a RuPaul next year. Ha!!

[WWW]

Riodelobo, I really do like your red and yellow nuc,s, the colors are quite vivid.

[Jamie D]

Yes, I definitely had bearding going on. In one way more than the other. I imagine the bearding hive is just larger in number. I took the feeders away and opened up the entrances. Fingers crossed!

[Ddawg]

I'm new also, I have 2 hives started in April/May. I understand exactly where your coming from, I recently removed my Boardman feeders and opened my entrances all the way. So far no problems.