Hi
My brood boxes are full. To give the bees room I added waxed flow frames two weeks ago. Early inspections through the rear window showed very few bees had moved into the frames. Today moisture can be seen in the cells.
The hive base is partially vented, enterance is fully open, the back and front of the top cover are vented. The plug has been removed from the inner cover and the hole covered with fly wire.
I intend to remove the whole honey super, split the cells with the key and remove the frames.
The plan is to leave the box out in the sun for a day or so and then carefully use a hair dryer to blow the moisture out of the cells.
Has anyone else had this problem and how was it overcome?
Any input from other beekeepers would be greatly appreciated.
Welcome to the forum Kayjohn. No, I wouldn’t remove the box with the Flow frames or try to dry them in any way, assuming that you have good, healthy (and expanding) bee population in the brood box(es). Before the Flow frames are fully accepted it is not that uncommon to see some condensation in the Flow frames when looking through the side or rear windows, especially after a coolish night in the morning. Usually it is gone by midday on a sunny, dry day, only to reappear the next morning. With expanding bee population now in spring they should fully occupy the Flow box sooner or later and the issue will be gone. What I would do is to close all openings that can produce a draft , for example close all the vents. Bees are at their best regulating the internal hive climate with only an entrance as an opening. Hope this helps.
What you are Seeing is a super being put on a colony a touch early.
There is insufficient bee numbers to regulate the whole hives temperature and humidity. They have prioritised the regulation in the brood box(s) and are letting the rest of the space fluctuate with the day. This is causing some condensation. As the bee numbers increase and a nectar flow starts they will start to be able to regulate the honey supers.
Georgina has given you some good advice in the mean time.
Hi. Somehow I have lost what I was typing. May have accidentally hit reply before I finished. I waited to see if more comments came but none arrived. Today:- At the rear, bees filling cells and spaces between frames full of bees. Side window:- many bees cleaning excess wax I had rolled onto the frame.
Only difference between the earlier inspections and today is the higher temperature
I couldn’t beeee any happier. Cheers John
