Advice needed

[Recurve]

Hello I am just after some advice. I have 2 hives currently and both hives are now 4x deeps and temperature last few days has been around 30C. I have always had some bearding and during the main summer i used a stick to keep the lid open a bit to help ventilation. Both hives were started in Nov 2013 and I am still a newbee. Last few days the bearding has gone crazy


Can anyone advise me on what to do

Last inspection there seemed to be plenty of room 4-5 frames in each top box was not drawn out. The queen does not seem to be honeybound as I saw brood and larvae in all boxes (even some in the very top super). We extracted 4 frames (2 from each hive) and got our first taste of our local honey Yum!!!!!!. We saw no queen cells. If you need more information let me know......

[drlonzo]

When you say that there were 4 to 5 frames in each deep that were not drawn out yet - are they all together side by side?  If so you may want to checkerboard the hive.  One non drawn, then a drawn, non drawn, then drawn, etc.  Breaking up the brood nest often times will allow the bees to recognize that there is actually still plenty of room to work.  Bees love to go UP, and if you just supered when they got half of the frames drawn without checkerboarding first, they may be sort of stuck in what they think is a tree in the middle so to speak. 

[Recurve]

I have done exactly that changed it so 1 drawn next not drawn, it is not 4-5 in each box it is just the top box that is not fully drawn as of last inspection (last sunday). I am not sure if I need to make another box up for each Hive. I did not expect new Hives started from swarms in Nov would end up needing more than 4 deeps each, I will need to order more hardware asap if they both need another deep.

[iddee]

First, with 4 deeps full, I would extract some honey and put the empties back on.

Secondly, that isn't much bearding. This is bearding.

Third, bearding in the summer and fall is a good sign of a healthy hive.

[Recurve]

Excellent thanks Iddee glad it is nothing to be concerned about. We will extract some more honey this weekend as you suggest

[rawfind]

First, with 4 deeps full, I would extract some honey and put the empties back on.

Secondly, that isn't much bearding. This is bearding.

Third, bearding in the summer and fall is a good sign of a healthy hive.

Iddee is right, nothing to worry about mine do the same thing when its hot, its a bit disconcerting when you first see it but after awhile
you know they are just doing what they know best, i use bearding as a visual sign to check if they have run out of room, if they beard when its not that hot i usually have a look inside see if theres plenty of room.