Beehaus ventilation question

[Essexgary]

Hi all

Not that happy with the amount of bees on the varandah at night...also loads of fanning in the morning when the sun is on the hive... All pretty normal I know..but when I inspected on Saturday, they poured out the top almost like they were gasping!

There's no top ventilation at all, only the OMF... Is this enough do you think? Is there anything I can do?

Appreciate your views

Gary

 

[fox403]

Hi Garry,,,u said this is your second beehaus and legs are on the way out again! Might be worth cutting your losses try get a refund, ,get a dartington hive with a mesh bottom problems gone!

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[Finman]

There's no top ventilation at all, only the OMF... Is this enough do you think? Is there anything I can do?

Appreciate your views

Gary

OMF is surely enough to ventilate.

But if bees get moist nectar, they fan it all the time to dry up honey.
If weather is moist, they often fan the moisture from hive.

 

[Polyanwood]

I don't think bees rushing out the top is a sign of bees being too hot and bees fanning and hanging out is normal when it is hot and there is a flow. Things worth considering....
If bees rush out when you open up, they are probably not the gentlest of bees.
If you are giving up on Omlet, then think about all the options open to you... the world is you oyster. A lot of people would have made different choices of hive if they had really looked into it.

 

[Essexgary]

Thanks all... I am going to keep the beehaus for now and also a 14x12 national...that way I don't need 2 types of frame etc. I will keep the other end of the beehaus for swarm control.

Polyanwood you're right they are not the gentlest.. Not aggressive or angry, just lively although the scene when they poured out on Saturday was more like treacle oozing out of a jar! Still, they are the swarmiest bees I have ever seen so will requeen both this year anyway. they were a swarm I caught last April. Since then, swarmed again in July, and again this April. Caught that one so hence why have 2 colonies now. You'd think someone was paying them piece-work for making play cups..