They're acting strange again!

[ziffabeek]

Hi guys, it's me again.  and yes, once again I'm freaking out.

My bees have been doing really well it seems  - all happy and busy.  I went into the top box last Saturday and they had started drawing out the last frame and there was lot's of capped brood and honey. I didn't pull out more than 1 frame and didn't go into the bottom, cuz I've been sick and didn't really have the energy for a full inspection.  I think there are still a couple of undrawn frames in the bottom box, but I thought it might be good to go ahead and add a super since the top box was full, so I did.  A medium one. 

I was planning on feeding them some, but its been kinda rainy the last few days so I didn't want to open them up to put the baggie in.  I looked under the outer cover this morning and saw the normal crowd of bees in the inner cover hole and figured all was well.

Well I just got home and they are acting all strange!  there are a bunch of bees on the entrance board and up the front of the bottom box about 1/3 of the way.  Also a bunch of bees on the ground.  I got close and they don't seem to be fighting, per se, but just kinda clumping together and running over each other and clinging to each other.  I didn't see any dead bees.  There are some flying around in front but not like when they do that orientation/newly hatched thing, this seems different, not quite as much of a cloud, more like a mist.  I thought they were getting robbed, but it doesn't quite look like the pictures of that on here, not enough bees, and like I said they don't seem to be killing each other.

It has been rainy and cooler the last few days.  It's clearish and coolish right now.

Does anybody have any idea what's going on?  Should I worry?  Is there anything I can do?

Acck! my babies!  :-P

Thanks for any help and advice.

love,
ziffa

[John Schwartz]

Nothing to worry about :) Sounds like they are just bearding and getting some fresh air after bee-ing cooped up for awhile.

[ziffabeek]

Whew!

Thanks lotsobees! that makes sense because it has rained the last couple of days and can get quite muggy in the middle of the day.

I was afraid they were going to swarm or something was attacking them!

Thanks again,  I am sooo glad I found this place.

love,
ziffa

[Joelel]

Hi guys, it's me again.  and yes, once again I'm freaking out.

My bees have been doing really well it seems  - all happy and busy.  I went into the top box last Saturday and they had started drawing out the last frame and there was lot's of capped brood and honey. I didn't pull out more than 1 frame and didn't go into the bottom, cuz I've been sick and didn't really have the energy for a full inspection.  I think there are still a couple of undrawn frames in the bottom box, but I thought it might be good to go ahead and add a super since the top box was full, so I did.  a medium one. 

I was planning on feeding them some, but its been kinda rainy the last few days so I didn't want to open them up to put the baggie in.  I looked under the outer cover this morning and saw the normal crowd of bees in the inner cover hole and figured all was well.

Well I just got home and they are acting all strange!  there are a bunch of bees on the entrance board and up the front of the bottom box about 1/3 of the way.  Also a bunch of bees on the ground.  I got close and they don't seem to be fighting, per se, but just kinda clumping together and running over each other and clinging to each other.  I didn't see any dead bees.  There are some flying around in front but not like when they do that orientation/newly hatched thing, this seems different, not quite as much of a cloud, more like a mist.  I thought they were getting robbed, but it doesn't quite look like the pictures of that on here, not enough bees, and like I said they don't seem to be killing each other.

It has been rainy and cooler the last few days.  It's clearish and coolish right now.

Does anybody have any idea what's going on?  Should I worry?  Is there anything I can do?

Acck! my babies!  :-P

Thanks for any help and advice.

love,
ziffa

They do that after a good rain a day or two. No worry.

[NasalSponge]

One should never feed with supers on if you intend to harvest....not true honey!

[ziffabeek]

Thanks Nasalsponge (interesting name btw! :) )

I understand that feeding produces weak honey.  This is my hive's first year and it has only been installed since June.  I'm mostly trying to make sure they are happy and healthy for the winter, not really expecting honey this year.  From what  I understand, the flow has stopped in GA until the fall, so I thought a little feeding until then might help them out and encourage them to draw on the new super.  Does feeding encourage that or no?

If the frames are getting full enough that I wanted to give them more room, but there isn't much flow, is it better to leave them crowded or add a super at this time of the year? 

Thanks for any and all advice.  I'm super-duper newbee so I appreciate it all.

love,
ziffa