What are they doing?

[Medovina]

We've hit two humid/hot days in the row. My 3 hives seem to be doing ok, but this morning I saw the bees on one of the hives hanging out like that. Are they cooling off?

I hope this doesn't mean they're swarming. There is plenty of space in the second brood box.

here is a pic:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/2564485638_e7792a1f2a_b.jpg

[tecumseh]

looks pretty winpy when compared to a couple of my hives. is it hot and humid? if yea...then the girls are hanging out on the front porch (is that I beer I see in one of their little hands?) and removing their body heat from the hive. if the bottom box has all frames covered you might wish to remove the entrance reducer for the summer... this plus providing a bit of top ventiliation usually remedies this situation (I don't really consider it to be a problem).

[cphilip]

Yep... looks like Bearding to me too.

First time I saw it I got concerned as well. Mine became quite large. Almost to the ground.

I added another Super and propped open the hive top a little with a couple of shims (even though I had a notched inner already) and it relieved it a tad. But it was real hot weather and they just tend to do it when its like this. It's been 100 F here the last two days.

[lstclair]

Ditto the removing of the entrance reducer. They need air!

(Just wait until they start moving couches out onto the porch, pouring lemonade...)

[Flyman]

Bee equivalent of "chillin and grillin". I have four hives that completely cover the front deep and 2 supers. That's with the top propped open, no entrance reducer, and a SBB. It is kind of alarming first time you see it though.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#bearding