https://photos.app.goo.gl/tHKKyGVr8qr4Fj7i9
I hope the pictures worked. The picture with the least bees was this evening when the temperature was over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The picture with the most bees was at 10:00pm when the temperature was about 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
I'm wondering if I should switch from a solid to a screened bottom board for ventilation.
Doubt they are swarming at night. Looks like bearding. Probably time for another deep or supers. Im personally not a fan of screened bottom boards. Bees dont like that much ventilation in my opinion. Adding another deep and possibly a top entrance should help. Another issue is having a water source close by.
Quote from: Dustymunky on May 28, 2018, 01:04:15 AM
Doubt they are swarming at night. Looks like bearding. Probably time for another deep or supers. Im personally not a fan of screened bottom boards. Bees dont like that much ventilation in my opinion. Adding another deep and possibly a top entrance should help. Another issue is having a water source close by.
I actually have another super ready. I already had a plan to put it on tomorrow. My inner cover has a slit in it for ventilation that can be used as an entrance.
If the hive was too hot on the inside they wouldn't be covering that entrance like that. I wouldn't call this bearding either. My guess is the colony desperately needs space so look inside during the day and confirm.
Looks like you definitely need a super. Bring a frame of 2 up and replace them with frames from the super.
I would also add insulation under the telescoping cover and make the inner cover a top entrance. I have top an bottom entrances and 2 layers of insulation in all of my hives. Each insulation board has at least one layer of foil.
It usually takes until the next night for the bees to move back into the hive.
Jim