When bees are on the top of frames doess it means they are starving

tom · January 23, 2007, 01:36:35 AM

Hello

Today i went to check on my girls and i saw them on top of the frames they have some stores but i gave them some candy and they seem to love it. But why would they be on top of the frames instead of being down in between them all three hives were like this. My third hive has lots of stores but the temp here has been in the 40's &50's maybe this is why but does this mean they may be hungry because they are low or is it nothing to worry about.

Tom

qa33010 · January 23, 2007, 01:46:45 AM

If their supplies are low they could be definitely on the top of frames. Mine were up because of flooding, plenty of stores and a new top entrance on both.

My ferals last winter ran out of food for a short time. The weather was nice but there was nothing blooming at the time for them to work. I just happened to check them because I was nosey. Mine did the same when I put some candy on top...totally nuts. Best yet is they're still alive and thriving! My concern would be more focused on the light hive. I've read, here, where some emergency feeding is done with dry sugar by some beekeepers. There are much wiser heads than mine around here. Good luck Tim!

David

Finsky · January 23, 2007, 03:15:37 AM

Quote from: tom on January 23, 2007, 01:36:35 AM
they have some stores but i gave them some candy and they seem to love it. But why would they be on top of the frames instead of being down in between them all three hives were like this.

* I suppose that you have brood in hive and they tend to make brood area to warm part of hive
* to feed candy and they still have stores, I can see no reason for that
* bees love sugar - I suppose not. They duty is collect sugar to their store and when you put sugar or honey intop the hive they try to make it clean and in order.

You have now such a weather as we have in April fefore willow. Bees get water outside but nights are cold.

bloom.http://www.wunderground.com/US/VA/Buffalo_Junction.html

mick · January 23, 2007, 04:32:28 AM

Only time mine are on top of the frames is if they have run out of space.

Michael Bush · January 23, 2007, 07:36:00 AM

Most of my hives spend all winter at the top. The question is, what does the hive weigh? If it's light, then they are out of food. If it's heavy they are not.

Finsky · January 23, 2007, 08:56:42 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on January 23, 2007, 07:36:00 AM
Most of my hives spend all winter at the top. The question is, what does the hive weigh? If it's light, then they are out of food. If it's heavy they are not.

It is like Michael says. My hives 75% started wintering on the top of hive. Many has cluster along front wall from lower entrance to topmost entrance.

tom · January 23, 2007, 05:05:43 PM

Hello

I went and weighted my three hives and two are light and the one i had the mite problems with has the most stored. And they are on top too just like the other two when we had the warm spell they were rearing brood like crazy and i am guessing the capped brood has hatched out and added to what was already in the hive. I gave them a candy board and they are all over it my third hive has plenty of honey capped and were out flying this morning when the other two did not come out. But i know because of the brood they have thats why they are low but they seem happy and healthy.

Tom

Brian D. Bray · January 24, 2007, 08:44:20 PM

Tom,
If your hives had stores and you fed them it is possible that they might begin to rear brood a little early. That said, using candy was better than giving them syrup--syrup would have more of a tendency to induce brood rearing.

Michael Bush · January 24, 2007, 10:04:19 PM

If they are light, I'd feed them whatever you can get them to take. Heavy syrup if they will take it. Candy if it's too cold to take syrup. Dry sugar on newspaper on the top bars will do in a pinch with a shallow super or a shim to make room for it.

If they aren't light, then leave them alone. :)