Why are they on the porch?

[localwhale]

This hive seems to gather quite often on the porch like this. My other 2 hives do not. Just wondering if anyone knows what they are doing or if there is a purpose for this. Sometimes it's slightly more sometimes it's slightly less.

thanks

[Michael Bush]

Just hanging out. Maybe doing a washboard. Wait until it gets hot!

[topdog17]

My bees hang out on exactly the same side! Always on the left and never on the right. Is that normal or just coincidence?

[Michael Bush]

It probably has to do with the configuration of the guards and/or the position of the sun in relation to the hive.

[localwhale]

All three of my hives, always on the left and never the right. The sun sets on that side and I've always assumed that was it. They'll be positioned to get the last remaining light of the day, and it's also the most unobstructed sun of the day for my bees. They have breaks of shade during mid-day.

I also noticed when I made a split they clustered on the side of the nuc facing the setting sun (left).

[hoodswoods]

my (very, very minute) experience too - hive faces due east and have longer sun to the south (left). I've rotated my hive 180 degrees over the bottom board and put on a entrance reducer which is primarialy open right (north). I was concerned about our wet/cool weather as well as some robbing signs and figured to try and force them to the right.

Probably a stupid thing to do trying to manipulate all those women - I can't control 1.

[Nan3902]

Funny !