Could it be a swarm?

[00dakota]

Hello,
My husband and I got our very first bee hive in Arpil of this year.  We put a super on the first of May.  This evening the bees are all bunched up around the front of the hive.  Could a hive this new be about to swarm?  Or course we have no second hive ready yet as we didn't realize this could happen this fast.

Thanks for any insite.

Ree

[MrILoveTheAnts]

It sounds more like they're bearding outside to cool the nest.

[00dakota]

Thank you, now my heart rate can return to normal.

[Understudy]

Prop open the top lid a little and let some of the hot air out. If they go back in it's breading. If they dissapear with half your honey it's a swarm.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Michael Bush]

Just sounds like bearding to me.  I try to increase ventilation until they go back inside.  A Screened Bottom Board (SBB) will help.   Propping the lid up will help.  Two shingle shims make a nice prop for the lid, but any stick will get by.

[00dakota]

That makes sense.  I was wondering what would keep the bees from filling the gap with honey if we propped it open and left it.  Just leave it up to cool off and then close.

Thanks for the help.

[Understudy]

Just leave it open and don't close. Until the weather cools down.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Michael Bush]

>I was wondering what would keep the bees from filling the gap with honey if we propped it open and left it.

Nothing.  But it scrapes off easily enough if they do.

[ZuniBee]

All of mine are bearding big time....only on the landing board. (Its completely covered) They look like they are doing the washboard I have read about. Anyway, I put a stick to prop the lid open. They didn't go back in until late. The next evening they were back out. This might be a dumb question but when you say prop a stick are you saying just the lid or the inner cover as well?

[annette]

The inner cover is already open in the middle. You would just prop open the telescoping cover a little.

Annette