I had a call from a gentleman in the next town over who has a self-built long lang hive that he's left alone since last year. The space on top is too large, so he has a wealth of burr comb with brood above the bars. The hive is now too hot for him to work comfortably because when he lifts the lid he rips up all the burr comb with brood in it. So I thought it'd be helpful to have this thread with everyone's input added please to these reasons, starting with...
Why bees get hot:
- Dearth
- Queenlessness
- Imminent Rain
- Wind
- Hassling (Loud Banging noises such as demolition next door, inspecting too often, annoying/toxic dryer sheet smell from dryer vent)
- Animal harassement
- Beesrobbing
- Recent honey harvesting or pulling of brood frames
- Not inspecting enough and bees aren't used to it
How to handle them (except in the case of beesrobbing):
- Of course, all the basics such as decent weather, advance smoking, use cool smoke, spray bottle of water, personal protective equipment, etc.
- Make sure jacket/veil is freshly washed with no fabric/soap scents
- Use a clean, smooth, lightweight white sheet or waxed paper to cover each box as it is lifted /inspected. "Keep a lid on it."
- No horsehair bee brushes
- If you use leather gloves, pull a nitrile glove over it
- Know exactly what you're going to do and work swiftly and smoothly. "Get in, get out."
- Work them a little bit at a time, 5 days apart.
- If suspected queenless, but the bees are too hot to get down to the brood nest, add a frame of eggs up top, and check back in 5 days. Or, add a queen cell above a queen excluder, with an imrie shim/entrance above it.
- Split them up to carefully combine to other hives or start nucs
Input to this topic is welcomed!