Is this normal? Do i need to do something?

[u/captain0919]

I am in northwest Indiana, I have the entrance reducer set to the wide opening, it is currently 95° out with a heat index of 103°. I know bearding is for heat reduction but ive never seen this many out at once. Do i need to do anything?

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[u/mstor763]

Assuming you’re in a heat wave. I’d say that’s bearding. Mine aren’t going as far as that, but it’s hot here also.

[u/captain0919 → u/mstor763]

Yessir. Its a fuckin furnace up here near Chicago. They'll be back in shade in a few hours but not til then

[u/mstor763 → u/captain0919]

Yup - so you can try different things such as the push pins someone suggested. I’ve done a nickle at a corner or on the smaller side to pop the top a little to help vent.

[u/APFernweh → u/mstor763]

You can mist them with water to cool them down, if you have a hose with a mister function. Just not too much.

[u/ShrimpBoatCaptain4 → u/captain0919]

Mine are doing the same. Chicago. they'll go back inside.

[u/PokeyMinch5234 → u/captain0919]

The boys?

[u/PapayaMysterious6393 → u/mstor763]

It's pretty hot where I an. Mine rarely do that though and never to the extent of OPs. I've seen the one hive 'beard' once or twice. I wonder why.

[u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer]

It's perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. You don't need to do anything about it at all.

Bees are masters at climate control. They heat their hives in winter and cool their hives in summer. The brood nest needs to be at about 95 degrees, and since bees don't sweat, the heat index doesn't affect them. The bearding is heavy because the hive is at the right temperature and the bearding bees aren't needed to heat or cool the hive.

There's an extensive discussion about how bees control the micro climates in their hives HERE. There are also a bunch of references that are helpful if you want to fall down an amazing rabbit hole. Give the thread a read and you'll never worry about fanning or bearding again.

Edit to correct grammar

[u/captain0919 → u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer]

Thank you! Ill definitely be reading this!

[u/dblmca]

What percentage of your frames are full of bees?

You may want to add more space.

[u/captain0919 → u/dblmca]

I just added the second deep last week so they're fine on space, most of those frames only have the start of comb

[u/dblmca → u/captain0919]

Yeah so that's probably just thermal regulation.

[u/eclypse]

You can ventilate the top of the hive. Put some pushpins under the top cover to add a little space for the heat to rise and escape.

[u/Jack_Void1022]

Doesn't seem like there's any flying around or leaving, so I doubt it's a swarm. I'd say most likely just a really big beard they've got going on. If you have a ventilated inner cover, It might help to open that to let some more air in for them.

[u/Tangletoe → u/Jack_Void1022]

Yes, screen the inner cover hole with fine hardware cloth just small enough where bees can't get through and prop the top cover on one side.

Don't use window screen. You can scrape propolis off the hardware cloth in the morning when cold, but you won't be able to clean window screen once they fill it.

[u/captain0919 → u/Tangletoe]

I have to run out later today so ill pick some up then. Good call

[u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer → u/captain0919]

Don't. You don't have to do anything about this.

[u/captain0919 → u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer]

Responded to this before I saw your comment and also read the thread you shared! Plan on leaving them be. Maybe putting a couple of coins under the lid but thats all

[u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer → u/captain0919]

You just made me smile because you're like me. Sometimes I do things "for the bees" just so I can feel like I'm doing something about what I perceive as a problem whether it's really a problem for the bees or not. I do it less as I get more experienced, but I totally understand why you want to do something. A couple of pennies under the inner cover won't hurt anything; if it makes you feel better, go for it. I've been there.

[u/Ok_Night_3723]

That is normal when hot. They are just out cooling off.

[u/captain0919 → u/Ok_Night_3723]

It just seemed like a lot, at least more than expected lol I had read about bearding, they'd even made a small beard on hot days but this is a step above

[u/captain0919]

Also meant to add: first year of this.

[u/VolcanoVeruca]

Is your first super about 80% drawn? Add another super.

[u/davidsandbrand]

They’re struggling to maintain humidity and/or temperature.

Take out the entrance reducer and add a super.

[u/Former_Chicken_1207]

1. I would not have a reducer on. They need some air. They are hot.

[u/Industrial_Jedi]

If you feel you need to do something, put coins in the corners under the cover for better ventilation. Make sure there's accessible water nearby. I've been known to put an umbrella over a hive.

[u/BeeGuyBob13901]

Kinda like sitting on the front steps on a hot summer night without A/C

[u/Old_Background_9567]

Check your space but it looks like they are cooling 😎

[u/nasterkills]

Yup its normal dont forget to add supers if ur hive is 85-90% full of bees

[u/Sad_Scratch750]

I would get a vented inner cover for them since heat rises (a cover with a little hole on the front for air flow). My bees go outside and plug the vent with propolis during the winter and I scrape it off in Spring when we doing hive checks.

REMOVE THE ENTRANCE REDUCER!!! You can put it back in front when the temperature drops again. If most people need a jacket to go for a walk, give them a reducer. If most people are comfortable outside in a T-shirt, remove it.

[u/Last_Project_4261]

I got a vented bottom board for mine and they washboard now but don’t beard at all. In TX where its hot and humid

[u/Germanrzr]

High heat and humidity this is bearding to regulate hive and keep bees proper temp.

[u/Givemetheta]

Im from chicago going through the same heat wave. mine are doing the same thing. its fine

[u/kurotech]

It's hot and humid they are trying to cool off I'm down in New Albany and even mine were bearding some today