A General Hive Question

[The15thMember]

I don't think it matters much either way.  If you'd like to move it up a day, it won't hurt anything.  I'm assuming you are starting to exit swarm season, so it's unlikely waiting two weeks would do any harm either. 

[Occam]

If the 90 degree weather is your concern it really only matters for your comfort, or won't affect the bees

[Terri Yaki]

If the 90 degree weather is your concern it really only matters for your comfort, or won't affect the bees

Yeah, I kind of sweat in that jacket at 70 degrees. At 90 and up, I'd really be soaking wet.

[Occam]

Oh I'm sure. I've worn a jacket exactly 2x and only one was in my own bee yard. I just can't make myself wear one. I wear a veil to keep my face from getting dying but otherwise it's generally shorts, t shirt, and flip flops with the suit on hand if it becomes necessary.

[The15thMember]

I was in my full vented suit with just a sports bra and gym shorts underneath on Saturday in 83F, so I can confirm that it's a surefire way to get drenched in sweat. 

[Ben Framed]

> Yeah, I kind of sweat in that jacket at 70 degrees. At 90 and up, I'd really be soaking wet.

If its a 3 layer breathable air flow type jacket simply wear a dry fit t-shirt or non at all beneath the jacket and bring along a fan... With the breathable jackets and a fan, its like Aladdin sang to the Princess, its a whole new world....

Phillip

[Terri Yaki]

I do have a shop fan that I intend to use, maybe I should just do it.

[Terri Yaki]

Yesterday was one of the hottest days of the year and the bees' behavior indicates that it was THE hottest. Hive #1 (the nuc I bought in April) has had the entrance reducer removed and no vent of any sort up top. It's four boxes tall, two deep and two mediums. This crowd had the porch covered with fanners yesterday and did no bearding. This morning they are running something but it's not pollen and they don't look to be landing heavy.

Hive #2 (my swarm trap hive) is still in a single deep but I have an empty deep on top as I have been feeding them syrup: 1) They still have comb to build and 2) I'm thinking that if they're storing it, they can use it during the dearth. This hive has two entrances, a small one on the porch and a medium one that I cut into the inner cover. It currently points downward and is the one they use the most. They were bearding yesterday during the day but when the sun went behind the trees, they quit that. They are bringing in some pollen today and others are flying but I don't know what they're carrying but it's not in their pollen baskets. They're pretty good at sticking the landing right on that top opening.

Hive #3 (the nuc I split off) has just a small opening on the porch but I shimmed the top with one of my hive tools. They were out bearding yesterday and this was the first day they were outside in any numbers. They also had some fanners at the opening but the opening is really small, like 1" to 1 1/4" wide. Today some of them are out making orientation flights for the first time.

So...my question is, what is recommended for the entrances with this heat wave coming in? We're looking at highs in the 90s for at least a week, which is about as bad as it gets here. Should I switch to the larger entrance on the porch of the trapped swarm? Should I enlarge the opening for the nuc I split? I don't see any reason to change anything with Hive #1 because they seem to be doing just fine.

[The15thMember]

If it's hot, the foragers are probably bringing in water, both for drinking and for cooling.  I agree that hives that are bearding are too hot and need more ventilation.  I think both the swarm hive and the nuc should have their entrances opened more.  With the nuc, I would keep an eye out for robbing if your flow isn't strong right now, and reduce their entrance again once it cools down. 

[Ben Framed]

Since heat rises, bees have to work extra hard to bring that heat and saunafied moisture down to the entrance in a bottom entrance hive to release it while generating heat themselves while doing so. . A little top ventilation will absolutely help in more ways than one. This has been discussed time and again with examples. I suggest you experiment for yourself and learn for yourself. Experience is the best teacher in many cases.

[BeeMaster2]

Phillip,
I don?t know if you remember but many years ago Little John went into a long explanation that when water is evaporated the first thing that it does is sink which is what the bees use to get heat out of a hive. A lot of members could not understand this and argued to the point that LJ stopped posting.
Jim Altmiller

[The15thMember]

I was curious about what Jim said, so I went and found the post he's referring to, if anyone else would like to read it.
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=51383.msg454259#msg454259

[Ben Framed]

No Jim, sorry, I do not remember. I have made it a point to read many of LJs post in the archives and have great respect for his writings and teaching, which I feel certain, many of which are based on his very own personal experiences for his particular location.

I for one have the same desire to learn as well, and in many cases when two or more beekeepers, which I have the upmost respect for, have a different view of opinion on the same subject matter, I have done exactly the same as LJ, learned from experience by experimentation. I have consider the advise of my friends here and put each to the test for my location.

There is never a need for a beekeeping discussion to reach the point of argumentation .. Nor is there any excuse for it. No wonder LJ quit posting .
To his credit which now humbles me to know he came back and helped me after he had quit posting here; he had the courtesy and respect to answer my PM request for his opinion as well as volunteering information by >coming back, even though temporally<and help me through PM on the subject topic > OAV too hot<. I suppose I should be even more so grateful  now to him for coming back to Beemaster up on  MY  personal request for his advise and his opinions on that topic!

When points are made for both; Yea or Nay, no matter the beekeeping subject, sometimes it is a good idea IMHO to Drop back and punt, try things for ourselves. In this case ventilation is just such a discussion that all are not in TOTAL agreement. Though all agree that ventilation is in order for many beekeepers locations. To what degree or how to go about is still in discussion apparently, a conclusion drawn after reading the last couple of post before my last post. which is what prompted me to politely suggest Terry experiment for himself in this case.  Thus drawing his own conclusion. Which in the long run, will be the >absolute best< for him and his bees concerning ventilation in his location. I feel certain that we all should be able to agree on this?

Phillip

[animal]

The thread 15th found is kinda interesting, but it seemed like everyone was assuming the bees as static or at least a "zero sum" in their effect on the air currents. Before jumping into that argument, I'd like to know if bees instinctually push air in a particular pattern or direction, instinctively vary patterns according to need or effectiveness, etc. .. looks like a need for research surfing the net or a bunch of work stringing k-thermocouples and micro flow sensors.

What da bees doin? .. so to speak. They may "fight" a particular air current established or simply adapt to whatever currents are present. Otherwise, maybe it's just a good way to get into an argument.   

For that matter, some strains of bees may push the air differently than others.

[The15thMember]

For that matter, some strains of bees may push the air differently than others.

This is the most likely answer in my opinion.  I mean, I'm sure there are certain constants about their behavior, but ventilation is such a varied thing between different beekeepers, it wouldn't surprise me at all if one of the variables was that the individual colonies react differently.   

[Kathyp]

We have had this discussion so many times!   

The ventilation issue, in my opinion, depends on where you are and the time of the year.  For example, I never thought that a top and bottom entrance on my hives in winter was a good idea.  I used my fireplace as the basis for my opinion.  Heat rises, a hole at the time and bottom causes smoke (and heat) to go out the upper hole!

Am I right?  Some people thought not and that ventilation was more important than heat preservation.  As for screened bottom boards, I like them.  I often left them open even in winter.  They are super for swarm catching.  Would I stop posting if someone disagreed with me?  nope.

[Terri Yaki]

We have had this discussion so many times!   

The ventilation issue, in my opinion, depends on where you are and the time of the year.  For example, I never thought that a top and bottom entrance on my hives in winter was a good idea.  I used my fireplace as the basis for my opinion.  Heat rises, a hole at the time and bottom causes smoke (and heat) to go out the upper hole!

Am I right?  Some people thought not and that ventilation was more important than heat preservation.  As for screened bottom boards, I like them.  I often left them open even in winter.  They are super for swarm catching.  Would I stop posting if someone disagreed with me?  nope.

What makes screen bottom boards better for swarm catching?

And I gave Hives #2 and 3 larger bottom entrances and it looks like they like them. 

[NigelP]

It was an old parlour trick in the UK when bees were ripening honey (solid floors and bottom entrances) to take a candle and you would see that at one end of the entrance the flame would be suck inwards and would be blown out at the other side.
Me I  have open mesh floors and just open a top entrance in the supers when they they are ripening honey in hot weather (v.rare in UK).

[Kathyp]

What makes screen bottom boards better for swarm catching?

I am talking about going out on calls.  You can tape the hive up tight and not worry about ventilation.  I sometimes got calls when I was out in the car, and would go collect from wherever I was.  Much better to be able to close the hive tight, than to drive home with bees flying around in your car   

[The15thMember]

I have some screened bottoms and some solid.  I leave the screened ones open during flying season and shut during the winter.  I used to use top ventilation in the summer, but had a lot of mold trouble when I did that, and it seems I have less issues now that I keep top ventilation to a minimum.  During the winter I put moisture quilts on all hives.