[mlanden]

I have a hive (1 deep, 3 mediums) with a decent population, but not anything eye-popping; plenty of space in the top medium for work. This is the 3rd year for the colony.

Still .... this hive beards a lot (even when the temp outside in a.m. is kinda cool), so: should I be concerned at all about swarming (due, maybe, to some population issue)?

Do the bees beard as a standard coping mechanism for inner-hive heat? Nothing to fret about?

Thx for any insights as to this ....

Mitch

 

[beemandan]

Bearding is a normal behavior. It may or may not indicate overcrowding. If your nectar flow has slowed or ended, I suspect that there is little likelihood of swarming.
Once the nectar flow has ended the vast majority of bees are unemployed foragers. They have no duties inside the hive and therefore, when ambient temperatures get high, they remain outside so they don’t add their biological heat to the nest.

 

[Michael Bush]

There is only a loose relationship between bearding and swarming. A strong hive may swarm. A strong hive will beard. We want strong hives.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#bearding