What's happening here?

[Etton]

Any suggestions on what's happening here? Been like it for 3 hours

 

[Softley]

Was that an empty box?

 

[Etton]

Was that an empty box?

Nope...hive full of bees!

 

[Bee Bumble]

Is there fighting at the entrance?

 

[Softley]

Could be a swarm trying to move in - fighting at the entrance might signify this. Or, if your queen is clipped and they have swarmed it could be your bees returning.

 

[Anduril]

Bearding.

 

[sherwood]

Any suggestions on what's happening here? Been like it for 3 hours

If I am not mistaken thats a poly hive and polysuper topped by two wooden supers, they look to be in direct sunlight possibility is that its very warm in there they are just cooling off giving them another super and more space may help as might widening the entrance if possible. Nothing to worry about happens occasionally.
Unlikely to be another swarm moving in as suggested elsewhere not with a colony that size.

If you still have your varoa inspection board installed remove it and let air circulate.

 

[fatshark]

I think the hive has been tipped over and the bees have spilled out

 

[Anduril]

I think the hive has been tipped over and the bees have spilled out

The OP has not stated that. You get it temporarily with some hives while inspecting. For 3 hours it is bearding.

 

[Softley]

If I am not mistaken thats a poly hive and polysuper topped by two wooden supers, they look to be in direct sunlight possibility is that its very warm in there they are just cooling off giving them another super and more space may help as might widening the entrance if possible. Nothing to worry about happens occasionally.
Unlikely to be another swarm moving in as suggested elsewhere not with a colony that size.

If you still have your varoa inspection board installed remove it and let air circulate.

Size of the hive is no indication to the size of the colony. If the bees in the box are queenless they may accept a swarm moving in without fighting.

Poly hives help keep the heat out in summer as well as keeping the bees warm in winter. It isn't overly warm at the moment and that's a lot of bees to be bearding, isn't it?

We can only speculate without knowing more about the colony.

 

[bingevader]

Yes, but there's a mixture of poly and wood, with the wood on top.
Will the wood be absorbing the heat quicker than the poly?
Or might this cause some kind of temperature inversion and so disrupt the usual flow of air?
It does look like bearding, but I've no idea really, hence the questions rather than statements!
Bee Keeping never ceases to fascinate.
Where's Mr Insulation when you need him?

 

[enrico]

I think the hive has been tipped over and the bees have spilled out

I got the joke. He he
E

 

[Anduril]

I got the joke. He he
E

Got it now

 

[enrico]

Well done anduril, thought you had missed it!
E

 

[Anduril]

Well done anduril, thought you had missed it!
E

Thinking outside the box.

 

[sherwood]

Size of the hive is no indication to the size of the colony. If the bees in the box are queenless they may accept a swarm moving in without fighting.

Poly hives help keep the heat out in summer as well as keeping the bees warm in winter. It isn't overly warm at the moment and that's a lot of bees to be bearding, isn't it?

We can only speculate without knowing more about the colony.

Quite correct softley but its a good indicator of size and thats all i have to go by dont denigrate others advice, thats all it is based on incomplete information and unlike you I dont know the temperture all over the UK but today has been rather warm where I a am.

 

[Softley]

Quite correct softley but its a good indicator of size and thats all i have to go by dont denigrate others advice, thats all it is based on incomplete information and unlike you I dont know the temperture all over the UK but today has been rather warm where I a am.

Sorry, I'm not meaning to sound like I'm saying you're wrong. You made a valid point. You have as much information to go as I do. Two beekeepers, three answers, and all that. Surely if there's an argument to be had (scientifically) then that's the best way to uncover what's really going on. We're all just making informed guesses without knowing the bees.

 

[Etton]

No fighting...have assumed its a swarm cast and at 9pm put them in a sealed up nuc
box. Will reopen in morning and hope they stay

 

[Etton]

Not sure if this is a clue that it could be a small swarm. I noticed a number of bees in the cluster landing and doing a 'waggle dance'.

 

[Softley]

If it was a swarm, the waggle dance could be a sign that they're about to move on - you may have cought them just before they left.

Are you sure they're not out of the hive they were on?