Condensation on the observation window this morning?

[jeremy_c]

I have not noticed it before but there was condensation on the inside of the observation window this morning. What do you think?

Jeremy

[Kathyp]

there's  moisture and heat in your hive.

[jeremy_c]

Yes, but does it indicate a ventilation problem? Should I do something to correct this situation or is it OK?

Jeremy

[Michael Bush]

If it's just briefly in the mornings, I wouldn't worry.  If it's all the time I would add a vent.

[luvin honey]

I had this plus mildew on the follower board. Propping open the back end cover seemed to help airflow.

Can anybody explain how to add vent holes and extra entrances in an occupied hive with or without power tools and without making the colony go crazy?

[RyanB]

Extra entrances is impossible without disturbing them as far as I can tell.  As for a vent, you could take a top bar and drill holes through it. Then add screening and put it in as the last bar is the 1st thing that comes to mind that wouldnt be trouble-some to the bee's.

[Michael Bush]

My standard method of reworking an observation hive:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesobservationhives.htm#working

"Whenever I need to rework the hive or do a thorough cleanup, I just put the frames into a nuc with the entrance at the same place as the tube with the tube still closed. In my case the nuc is on top of an empty deep box to get it the right height. If the entrance to the nuc is the same place, they quickly find the nuc. This gives me several days, if I want it, to clean up the burr, the propolis, rework whatever things were frustrating me, like making a feeder, putting in something to maintain the spacing, a hole to feed pollen, more or less ventilation etc. Then when I'm done, I just put the frames back in the observation hive, remove the nuc and connect everything back up."

[luvin honey]

What if it is a full-blown hive, or at least on its way to becoming one? I think from Jeremy's posts his hives are doing well and probably have built up quite a bit of brood by now. But, I will let him speak for himself :)

If I needed to rework venting in my own hives, what would I do with about 20 bars of brood and other comb?

Thanks!

[Kathyp]

they plug up the screens in mine and i have to take a paper-clip to the holes. 

[jeremy_c]

What if it is a full-blown hive, or at least on its way to becoming one? I think from Jeremy's posts his hives are doing well and probably have built up quite a bit of brood by now. But, I will let him speak for himself :)

Both were installed May 9th from 2# Minnesota Hygenic packages. One has 6 huge combs from side to side, top to bottom, the other has 7 smaller combs. I suppose they are doing OK but I am a first year beek so have nothing to really compare them to but my other hives.

Jeremy