Bees on the bottom?

Started by Hotburn76, July 28, 2014, 10:55:07 PM

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Hotburn76

I was at my hive on Sunday and checked the hive and added a second super.  After I put the first super back on the hive, which I sat on the stand right beside the hive, I noticed some bees by the bottom of the hive.  Took a peak under it at the bottom screen and there was a bunch of bees under there, maybe enough to almost cover the screened bottom.  I thought they must have come off the honey super and just needed to find there way back in.  Tonight I went back out to pull a sticky board off of another hive and took a peak at this hive and they are still under there? Is this a sign of something?  Not sure what this means.  Hive looked great on Sunday, seen the queen, found eggs, good laying patter, so far so good.  Also this is my first year and I have two hives, both hives seem great.
Jason Johnston

tjc1

In the summer, I always find varying amounts of bees hanging on to the screen underneath. They never seem agitated or distressed, and sometimes I see them either being fed or passing on nectar (can't tell which) to bees on the inside of the screen. I have wondered if in part it might not be a shortcut for passing gathered nectar without having to pile inside the hive. I have noticed that some will stay there overnight, too. Keeping cool?

johng

I was checking nucs this past week after putting queen cells in two weeks ago and found 3 queens under the screen. So I would take a real good look to make sure there's not a queen under there. Or just bump the screen over the brood box while you have it off.