[ClarksvilleTennessee]

Just came from my hives (dusk). These are five 2010 nucs. #1 had probably 3 lbs of bees on the landing board and face of lower hive box. Bees piled 3 and 4 deep. Couldn't see entrance due to pile of bee. Another few hundred agressively flying at base of hive. Have I been invaded? Fighting for turf? I have been feeding but that hive feeder was empty when checked at 6:30. Didn't refill due to agressive activity at hives #3, 4 & 5. Should I reduce the entrance? Should I feed outside only? Should I quit feeding? Could the hives be stripped bare? Any suggestions?
First real post ever. Thanks

 

[Peter]

Get rid of the entrance feeders
If you really need to be feeding now, then use top feeders or inverted mason jar feeders over the inner cover. A lot of the bees hanging out front may be just bearding because of the heat. We're nearly 10pm and it's still close to 90 - even the swarm I caught last week is bearding on the landing board and front of box.

 

[ClarksvilleTennessee]

Thanks;
I have no entrance feeders. I'm feeding with quart jars on the inside cover in an empty box with the outer cover on top. These were empty earlier tonight. All my other hives have a thousand or so bees bearded on the outside but this one has 10 times as many and also has some agressive acting bees flying at the base. The others have zero flying at dusk.

 

[the doc]

today i some some robbing of my split from one across the yard. I just closed up almost all of the entrances and put a stop to it. THe bees were flying around looking for a way in though the side entrance.

 

[beedeetee]

It sounds like it is just hot and they are on the outside to keep the hive cool. What is the temperature there?