Hi Lynn
I have to own up to stealing my wifes egg (chicken) monitor which i have
dropped into the sump of the warre. It is infra red so not very good on
quality, but is good for seeing what is happening.
Best wishes
Mike
On Thu, 25 Jun 2020, 15:14 Oxnatbees, <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Mike
35-37 is the ideal temperature for the brood nest, day or night, and
whether it is warm or cold outside this will be the temperature of the nest
within (a healthy colony). Depending on where your sensor is exactly it
will vary more if not right by the nest.
The bearding and fanning is not just about temperature control. The bees
also need to control the level of humidity within the hive and especially
so when they are actively converting a lot of nectar to honey as they need
to reduce the moisture content considerably.
The bearding enables them to leave surfaces of the nectar-filled comb
exposed and the fanning creates a good airflow to enhance evaporation. This
forced evap. will cool the hive also but the nurse bees will ensure the
brood remain at the right temperature.
Your bees look happy and purposeful. Great close ups of the fanning. Was
the inside shot through a window?
Anyway, all looking good.
Lynne
On Thu, 25 Jun 2020, 14:13 mike pighills, <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Dear all,
On the subject of cooling the hive my bees have been furiously fanning
for the last couple of days and are maintaining a temp in the hive of
between 32-36C during the day (sensor is mid way up the Warre, pardon the
expression!). Just wondering if this is low/high/normal?
I have put video links, below, of the inside and outside activity in the
hive entrance from this morning if anyone is interested.
https://youtu.be/G1DxXIJqEnA
https://youtu.be/4e6-DXv97u8
https://youtu.be/xaN_x-77chA
Best wishes
Mike
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 9:22 PM Zuzana Meryova <zuzanameryova@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
thank you. and yes, we have an old wheelbarrow full of water near by.
On Wed, 24 Jun 2020 at 20:57, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I would open the entrance fully, yes - they have easily enough bees to
defend it.
I have seen a reminder on another forum that in this weather bees will
need a nearby source of water for cooling.
Paul
On Wed, 24 Jun 2020 at 20:51, Zuzana Meryova <zuzanameryova@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Similar here. I guess it's just too hot. Shall I open the entrance
fully? Hive
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTy8BBe8ZD0&feature=youtu.be> is
under the trees.
On Wed, 24 Jun 2020 at 17:10, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
You could lean a plank or two on the sunny side to reduce incident
solar radiation. Kind of a short term solution. Longer term, grow a fruit
bush there. as long as the comb is not melting, no problem.
Paul
On Wed, 24 Jun 2020 at 16:19, Helen Nunn <helenmaynunn@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Paul
Seeing your picture (excellent, by the way!) I decided I'd better
visit my bees and lower their bottom boards, under the mesh floors.
However, they were stuck in place, and as the bees seemed perfectly
happy
anyway I decided to leave alone. But my Warre hive was doing just the
same
as yours - but nothing possible to do there.
Hope for the best
Helen
On Wed, 24 Jun 2020 at 12:32, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Just spotted this beard on the huge colony that didn't swarm this
year. It wasn't like this half an hour ago.
They've sent excess bees outside to aid ventilation - note the
lines of bees above and on the floor below the hive(!): they are all
pointing towards the entrance, fanning. There's no wind here.
Probably need comb surface area for honey processing.
Paul
