Sudden bee poop long-splatters on hive - Oh Oh!

[hobbitlady]

Does anyone have experience with a thriving hive "getting the runs" ?
Yesterday I suddenly saw long splatters around the entrance to my hive. There have been some new bees orienting regularly but I've never had sick new bees emerge.  Nosema actually Kills colonies,I believe,and mine is thriving and building up right now. I read that if they get into fermented honey or "something" that that can Also disrupt their digestion. I Did leave some old comb out for them to clean up from winter but I'd taken good honey off some of it. Still it got wet in new rain and could have had fermented areas they cleaned up.

 I'm going to open up and see how it looks and for now just give them a HoneyBHealthy drench. Can't hurt,no matter. And I Hope the Inside doesn't look like That too or I'll know they are in trouble. Anyhow I'll report back but if anyone has any thoughts,especially if that sort of thing "comes and goes" please let me know! I've only Ever seen it the first week of a stressed new package and I think once in a long winter(but they all recovered) Thanks!

Haven't been in the hive yet,but been reading. Apparently the old strain of Nosema that caused bee dysentery is almost non-existent now days! Nice to Know since it's in most of my books!
There is a Nosema that still harms bees but dysentery is Not a symptom. Also read of a Beek with thriving hives that has occasional front of hive splatter and it's never been anything that hurt his colonies.

[Deleted]

I think you are okay. You have enough flying days that the runs should clear themselves up. From what I can deduct it is only when they are cooped up that it causes big issues.

[indypartridge]

A few splatters usually isn't anything to be concerned about. If your weather has been as bizarre as ours here in the midwest, bouncing back and forth between Spring and Winter, the bees are going back and forth from foraging to clustering.
I agree with @charmd2, very likely will clear itself up.

[copperkid3]

Both charmd2 and indypartridge are correct in their explanations with an additional piece of information from me:

"cleansing flights" in the early springtime are a normal process and one shouldn't be too surprised at seeing these

'streaks' of yellow on their hives, cars and if a housewife is foolish enough to hang out her freshly washed sheets to air dry on the clothesline.... enough said.

[hobbitlady]

Apr 12, 2016 5:23:52 GMT copperkid3 said:

Both charmd2 and indypartridge are correct in their explanations with an additional piece of information from me:

"cleansing flights" in the early springtime are a normal process and one shouldn't be too surprised at seeing these

'streaks' of yellow on their hives, cars and if a housewife is foolish enough to hang out her freshly washed sheets to air dry on the clothesline.... enough said.

copperkid3 ,Thing is, it's Not "early" Spring Here. Lots of sun and warm enough for bees to fly for over a month and lots of new bees orienting for several weeks now. No splatters until 2 days ago and they are brown,rather dark.In my 4 years beekeeping it was just "new" to me. If someone who's never had bees reads your post,as a first year beek, it's good info to know about though!

The overwintered bees were "cleaned out" the beginning of March where I live.Our first flow is continuing, of the Later fruit trees(plums done 2 weeks ago,cherries done a week ago,etc. Now it's apples,the last to bloom) and wild manazanita for a several weeks yet. I do know about "normal" cleansing flights of course.  I just never saw "this", a sudden bunch of very "long" splatters,overnight,so I posted.

To update though,it appears it was a One day "event" . All of them were on the Front of the hive and no where else too. It just seemed odd to me!

@charmd2 ,indypartridge ,copperkid3 , Thank you all very much for responding. I guess bees just keep on giving us things to observe or try to figure out ! 

[indypartridge]

 I guess bees just keep on giving us things to observe or try to figure out !

hobbitlady, that's what makes beekeeping such an interesting hobby. Doesn't matter how many years you've been keeping bees, there isn't a year that passes by where they don't do something that leaves you scratching your head, thinking "I've never seen them do THAT before!"

[hobbitlady]

indypartridge, I do get a kick out of them and how very "different" insects are. I Love having bees sooooo much. So fascinating. Hey,WELCOME to the forum too! It's great to have another beek posting.

[hobbitlady]

I did get back to inspect my long hive and it's looking great inside. No more graffiti all over the front either. I do think the population has tripled already with our early Spring (it started quite small though) and they had 3 frames of new honey. My mutts in this colony are Such nice bees;hardly a one landed on my suit and I was a little clumsy/out of practice, as in some thumping around.

And I was a Bad Bad girl!I cut out a quart of honey from their back frame.Not smart to give them comb building work during a flow (foundationless hive). But It was just too beautiful to resist!!!....all fruit tree and manzanita light honey in new white comb. They started building up so early I left what these overwintered so hadn't taken anything yet. Having taken one frame of this lovely new honey,I just wanna be a Robber though! nonono...gotta Wait and let 'em do their work....