The same happened to us last week (also opened them for the first time just
to add a box on). Is the correct term bearding? We had bees out of a hive
covering all three boxes for two days. We gave them another box (which was
really needed, we were probably a week too late) and the next day most of
them went back in. I also noticed blue tit has been eating them.
On Tue, 24 May 2022 at 20:18, Gareth John <gj.garethjohn@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Helen
It could be that that hive is thinking of swarming. One things the colony
has to do when it swarms is decide which bees go and which stay. One way of
doing that is for the potential swarm bees to start camping out on the
porch. This can happen for several days prior to the swarm leaving. The
cluster grows and shrinks from day to day as bees come and go between it
and the body of the hive.
Other explanations are also available, as they say!
Gareth
Sent from my iPad
On 24 May 2022, at 17:55, Helen Hitchman <hitchman24@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:national hives and this is the first time I have opened them this year. I
I went round my hives yesterday morning to put a super on. I have 5
literally took the roof and crown board off and popped a super on. All five
looked very strong colonies.
small melon clinging to the underneath of the hive. I assumed that maybe
On one hive I noticed a ball of bees about the size of a grapefruit or
there wasn't enough room for them in the hive. So I left them to it.
there?? I left them to it again, but does anyone have any ideas as to what
I went and checked them again at lunchtime today and they are still
they are doing? Could it be a swarm that couldn't find anywhere else to go?
in case they are looking for a new home....
I have a nuc box next to the hive, which I have opened the entrance on,
