Bees venting... a sign of ventilation problems?

jeremy_c · June 19, 2009, 03:34:36 PM

One of my hives has about 15 bees in the front porch with their rears outward, head looking in the hive flapping their wings for all the are worth. This is them trying to cool the hive, correct? Does it mean I should provide better ventilation for them? I have screened bottom boards but right now all the boards are in. My other hives are not doing it, however, they have a top entrance which may be providing a bit more ventilation, this hive does not.

Jeremy

John Schwartz · June 19, 2009, 03:39:19 PM

Quote from: jeremy_c on June 19, 2009, 03:34:36 PM
One of my hives has about 15 bees in the front porch with their rears outward, head looking in the hive flapping their wings for all the are worth. This is them trying to cool the hive, correct? Does it mean I should provide better ventilation for them? I have screened bottom boards but right now all the boards are in. My other hives are not doing it, however, they have a top entrance which may be providing a bit more ventilation, this hive does not.

More likely means they are ventilating like they normally will to lower water content of honey before capping it. :) Normal behavior.

luvin honey · June 19, 2009, 03:41:17 PM

Good grief! I feel like every single time you post it is exactly what I have been wondering!! :shock: I just went to feed my hives and saw exactly the same thing in mine. However, it is not that hot here--maybe 80? I was wondering about it possibly being their way of drying out the hive. This is the hive I fully inspected using vineger-water spray a few days ago. The other one (not inspected) is not doing this.

I will sit back and wait to see what others have to say :)

dennis a · June 19, 2009, 05:33:58 PM

The front porches of my hives are full of bee's fanning, 90 degrees. I would give them a little air but we have storm warnings here in southeast Iowa and don't need the covers blowing away.
Dennis

jeremy_c · June 19, 2009, 06:18:58 PM

Quote from: luvin honey on June 19, 2009, 03:41:17 PM
Good grief! I feel like every single time you post it is exactly what I have been wondering!! :shock:

Seems we are on the exact same place in our bee keeping knowledge. Maybe I can sit back and let you ask some questions for a bit (as not to wear the forum down by just me :-D

Seriously, isn't this forum great!? I've been trying to answer questions of others that I know the answer to for sure, but I'm still in a mode of more learning than teaching.

Jeremy

Highlandsfreedom · June 19, 2009, 06:28:48 PM

Seriously, isn't this forum great!? I've been trying to answer questions of others that I know the answer to for sure, but I'm still in a mode of more learning than teaching.

Jeremy

[/quote]

I feel the day we quit waking up in the learning mode I will bee dead so I always try to learn SOMETHING everyday even if it oops dont do that... :-D

luvin honey · June 20, 2009, 12:52:15 AM

Yeah--this is a great forum! At my beekeeper meeting last night, an older gent mentioned how crucial it is for us newbies to have a mentor. I realized that all my mentors are either online or distant friends that I e-mail : ) Thank goodness for the internet!

I agree, Highlands. I think it's why I keep getting into new things--it's so energizing to have something new to learn about! Plus, I hear that bees are so complex that even old-time beeks are constantly learning new things!

sc-bee · June 20, 2009, 05:23:15 AM

15 bees no big deal. They are fanning to create a draft thru the hive to vent. Could be for several reasons.

Cool the hive down, cool down to dry honey, and when you move things around a bit or hive a swarm etc. you will see them fan to get the smell of the queen out as a calling card.

15 bees is not bearding as if they are crowded or bearding because of the heat in the hive. It may be an early sign however. Remove the insert in the sbb unless you are doing a count etc.

tillie · June 20, 2009, 08:34:43 AM

Fifteen bees is not a beard! But here is a beard and if you get a larger one, you might consider the slatted rack as a help with hive ventilation

Linda T in Hotlanta with a slatted rack on every hive (heading for a 95 degree day today)

sarafina · June 20, 2009, 02:03:48 PM

I have a question related to bearding.

I have 2 hives with identical hardware setups - a screened bottom board, 2 deeps and a super on top. Yellow hive is a year old and blue hive was started from a package this spring.

Yellow hive has a lot of bearding and Blue hive has none at all. We have been in the high 90's with no rain for 2 weeks now. Is Yellow hive bearding because there are more bees in it? Tomorrow I will prop the top cover with a stick in the back to give them more ventilation.

JP · June 20, 2009, 07:34:24 PM

Jeremy, 15 bees from that one hive, not the others, fanning with butts out could be young bees orienting on the bottom board after an orientation flight.

...JP