Bee question

[thormanw]

My chickens and guinea all free range dawn to dusk. I'm getting ready to move my hive from my mothers property to mine. Does anyone have bees with free rangers? Do they eat them? Should a put a fence around the hive? This spring where planning on setting up three more hives. The wife doesn't want to feed her honey makers to the birds.

 

[centrarchid]

I am one of many here. They may eat bees on ground. I do not fence around bees and have not had problems with chickens attacked. Chickens foraging around hives may have some significant pest management benefits for bees, especially if you are in an area with hive beetles.

 

[thormanw]

Nice didn't think about them eating hive beetles. Thanks

 

[centrarchid]

The are good at getting larvae and pupae they espose by scratching around base of hives. The scratching alone may have benefits.