Outsiders.

[Buckmaster]

Hi. I've only got the one colony at the moment, and I mentioned on a previous post that I (stupidly, but lesson learnt), left too much space in the brood box, and the ladies have filled it with comb. I was advised on here that brood is important at this time of year and I'd be sensible to leave it for the moment, and a quick peek does look like I'd destroy some brood if I were to prise it apart now. Obviously though, I can't properly inspect, so I don't know if they're producing queen cells etc. But my concern at the moment, which I can't find an answer to in any books, is that there seems to be quite a number of bees that stay outside the hive, around the entrance, even overnight. Is this an overcrowding issue? Or are they just too warm in the hive? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[BKF Admin]

Tip the brood box at 45deg leaving the floor behind and smoke the bottom bees up,have a good look for any queen cells.
It's not perfect but it will help.
Don't worry about bees hanging out at night,all the foragers are home and they need to drop the humidity so the nector can be reduced below 20% to be capped.
That's a lot of water to shift.

 

[Buckmaster]

Great. Thank you.

 

[Eyeman]

Hi. I've only got the one colony at the moment, and I mentioned on a previous post that I (stupidly, but lesson learnt), left too much space in the brood box, and the ladies have filled it with comb. I was advised on here that brood is important at this time of year and I'd be sensible to leave it for the moment, and a quick peek does look like I'd destroy some brood if I were to prise it apart now. Obviously though, I can't properly inspect, so I don't know if they're producing queen cells etc. But my concern at the moment, which I can't find an answer to in any books, is that there seems to be quite a number of bees that stay outside the hive, around the entrance, even overnight. Is this an overcrowding issue? Or are they just too warm in the hive? Thanks in advance for any help!

I always try and sort out any mess ASAP. I've learn't the hard way that putting it off till the next inspection only makes things worse. Do it in the evening so as not to get other colonies too excited by all the exposed honey comb. I would get an empty brood box and a spare crown board to put the frames/brace comb on and get those frames out and sort out the mess. Take the surplus comb away with you on the crown board and use the empty hive to put the frame back into while you clean all that honey and brace comb off the walls of the original hive.