The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Bees & Beekeeping => Topic started by: Laurieston on July 12, 2014, 10:50:33 pm

Title: is there a cat in my hive?
Post by: Laurieston on July 12, 2014, 10:50:33 pm

Several times this year I have heard a purring coming out of my hive.  It sounded like a cat.  I could hear it from outside the unopened hive.

Has anyone else heard something like this?

Title: Re: is there a cat in my hive?
Post by: Sudanpan on July 13, 2014, 05:46:18 pm

I sometimes hear a bit of a roaring coming from the hive, but not purring

Title: Re: is there a cat in my hive?
Post by: Fleecewife on July 13, 2014, 09:31:33 pm

Isn't that what Granny Weatherwax heard when she went to consult her bees?

Title: Re: is there a cat in my hive?
Post by: Ina on July 14, 2014, 07:21:42 am

Quote from: Fleecewife on July 13, 2014, 09:31:33 pm

Isn't that what Granny Weatherwax heard when she went to consult her bees?

Oh, she heard all sorts of things!  ;D

Title: Re: is there a cat in my hive?
Post by: cloddopper on July 17, 2014, 11:30:02 pm

Quote from: Laurieston on July 12, 2014, 10:50:33 pm

Several times this year I have heard a purring coming out of my hive.  It sounded like a cat.  I could hear it from outside the unopened hive.

Has anyone else heard something like this?

 It sounds as though the field bees were working a nectar flow and the hive bees were fanning the uncapped honey to reduce the moisture so it can be capped  . Their fanning also produces heat so you'll have also have had the "  ventilation bee " fanning like mad to keep the hive temp down to stop the wax melting and collapsing the combs.

Title: Re: is there a cat in my hive?
Post by: Laurieston on July 19, 2014, 08:33:48 pm

Man they work hard those bees.  I'm glad I'm not one.

Thanks for all the replies.

(I'll see if I can record it sometime and try to attach the audio file)