So, never dealt with an open comb hive before, we hit 0 F regularly in the winter, here at 6900 ft. so they just don't exist Good temperament, so I know they aren't AHB newly arrived from the south.
My concern is this is an 140yr old Adobe, with a pine tree raftered roof with unknown insulation...
I won't know until I cut and remove the open comb, if there is a crack in the stucco (you can see the newer grey repair butting the wood) that would let them get in.
This 'eyebrow' over the window was their way of letting water drain off the flat roof, so it butts in at 90 deg to the tree rafters.
Note **I couldn't gain access into the home, it's barricaded shut, I know a stethoscope and some knocking on the ceiling would have answered about everything.
I keep coming back to: why would they build out comb outside if the roof void is full? they should have just swarmed. Is this just a swarm that found no were to go?