Bees, so many bees!

[gawildlife]

When does get cold there, below 50F? Below 50F they go into cluster so once temps go into the low fifties expect activity to stop. But as it goes up flights resume. Maybe it'll stop on its own soon.

 

[Kadjain]

When does get cold there, below 50F? Below 50F they go into cluster so once temps go into the low fifties expect activity to stop. But as it goes up flights resume. Maybe it'll stop on its own soon.

It will get down into the 50's this week but not below then we have quite a few days of rain which keeps them down. But then after the rains they are out in force

 

[Kadjain]

Sounds like your in what we call a dearth and it must still be warm. The bees use water to cool the hive and foraging on feed means no natural pollens or a sugar within the feed. Definitely document and speak with the neighbor, please try to get off on the right foot. Not saying you are anything but polite but us beeks to often get confronted by irate neighbors (usually from a mile or so away) because they saw A BEE. But we also know exactly what your going through because we have our own neighbor issues with things like pesticides carelessly applied so if you approach in like manner you're more likely to get his/her full cooperation.
Responsible beeks try to avoid situations like this for obvious reasons. He/she should have set up an alternate water source and possibly an open feeder on his own property prior to moving the bees. Maybe he did and the ladies liked your set up better. Who knows, but I do know this the beek needs to make the effort to change his ladies habits.

How many colonies? I assume the guy is commercial or migratory since you say he just brought them back. If we're talking hundreds of colonies then you got real trouble getting them rehabituated elsewhere. A few dozen and not so hard.

Whatever the case start off with a reasonable approach and see where that gets you. If it doesn't then by all means get him because I'm a firm believer in being good neighbors and it's something I try to drill into all the new beekeepers who come to our short courses.

Beekeeper of 30+ years and president of Henry County Beekeepers Association.

I approached him politely and calmly and talked to him and his first reaction was like 'what possible problem could you have w my bees'. So I started telling him and he wanted to see the damage. I showed him and he just acted like there was nothing he could do about it. Anyway I was hoping to talk to you privately about it more if you think there is anything more about it to be talked about .. .

Thanks

 

[roseyred]

I had a feeling he would be somewhat erogant and not understand why it was a harm to you. Like I said document every detail incase it gets worse or he feels you have threatened his beekeeping and does something drastic.

 

[centrarchid]

Maybe you can work with him to devise a bait station that is more suitable to interest of the bees. I am a keeper of poultry and chickens. What you have described thus far does not constitute damage but it could very well be considered a nuisance.

More likely than not the bees are scavenging for anything they can use as pollen. To prevent the bees from being a nuisance to you, he could setup a pollen station away from you that might meet there needs assuming that does not fire up their brood rearing at the wrong time.

Another consideration may have to do with precedence if it applies in your area with bees like water rights apply out west. If such applies your options may prove limited.

 

[dheltzel]

I'd tell the beekeeper I was fixing to treat my poultry for lice and mites and was concerned that the strong pesticide might harm his bees . . .
The optimal outcome would be if he was concerned enough about his bees to find a way to keep them away from your place.
If you don't want to use chemical pesticides, I suspect the organic ones like Safer's soap and Diatomacious Earth will cut back on the bees like it does lice and mites.

 

[leonphelps]

most states have strict laws against the intentional killing of bees. if your hives die, you call someone in from the dept of agriculture and they will perform autopsies on the dead hives free of charge and then have absolute rights over any property to discern the source of the problem. this means no warrants needed to enter property and homes. states recognize that without bees you would have nothing to eat. I know in PA and in NYS you can even keep bees if you live in an apartment public spaces with no legal means of stopping you.

just curious what you could be using that bees are destroying? they dont eat plastics and only consume pollen and sugar, and oh yeah water.


my birds love the free meal from my bees.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Just a thought...
I have a neighbor less than 1/2 acre from my coop. He keeps bees. When he first started with the bees they would swarm my coop as well. Turns out they were just looking for water.
I put a birdbath with pebbles in a shady spot not far from the coop and they went to it readily. They quit with the coop within a day or two. I keep it full of clean water the same as I clean the chicken water, twice a day. No more bees in the coop and the neighbor brings me honey.

 

[centrarchid]

Just a thought...
I have a neighbor less than 1/2 acre from my coop. He keeps bees. When he first started with the bees they would swarm my coop as well. Turns out they were just looking for water.
I put a birdbath with pebbles in a shady spot not far from the coop and they went to it readily. They quit with the coop within a day or two. I keep it full of clean water the same as I clean the chicken water, twice a day. No more bees in the coop and the neighbor brings me honey.

Please convert the acres (area measure) to distance so as to make description easier to relate to.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Please convert the acres (area measure) to distance so as to make description easier to relate to.

Oh sorry. I forget that acres is not universal.

It is aprox 125 feet from my coop where he keeps his bees. (or about 38 meters)
I have found that I rather enjoy having them visit and planted sunflowers near the garden for them. I got more tomatoes then ever.