Bees swarming chicken water

[ericaoruiz]

I'm new here so, hello to everyone
I need some advice about bees around my chickens water. I have a bucket waterer for my chickens and I bring it out of the coop with the hens while they free range during most of the day. The last couple of very hot days have brought bees swarming to the chickens water! I love bees and they were drowning in the water, so I put out a bowl(same color green as the chicken water) with water and sticks for perches for the bees. They barely go near the bowl and still swarm the hens water.
I guess my questions are:
Why would the bees be so persistent about getting their water from the hens bucket?
And will these bees bother my hens? I haven't seen them go up to their water as often when the bees are there. Do the bees stings hurt the hens? I've already gotten stung and it sucks!

Thank you for any help

 

[Rod-T]

Are these honey bees,?

If they are get a rubber pan water dish rubber is a great surface for them to land on..set it some where eles ..garden or somewhere you can refill. . Put a board inside so it will float..
If you keep it full the bees will find it...
Next only water your chickens just enough to let dish go dry after there done. . Bees wont bug a dry dish..Eventually the bees will figure it out. . And perfer the new location. ..good luck

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join us here! I'm afraid I know nothing about bees but Rod- T has left you some good tips. There is a bee keeping thread you could also ask on ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/310974/a-bee-thread-for-those-interested-in-beekeeping

Good luck, I hope you have your bee problem solved soon. Enjoy BYC

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. You could consider using drinking nipples. Making a system can be as simple as drilling holes in a bucket and slotting the nipples in.

All the best
CT

 

[drumstick diva]

CTKen has offered up a very good solution. It does take some time though to teach the chickens to use the nipples. It also will keep the water clean

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[DeanneG]

Hi and welcome to BYC. You could consider using drinking nipples. Making a system can be as simple as drilling holes in a bucket and slotting the nipples in.

All the best
CT

I tried that and it was worse the bees crawled all over the nipples after a drop of water and the chickens couldnt get a drink at all

 

[Pork Pie]

I tried that and it was worse the bees crawled all over the nipples after a drop of water and the chickens couldnt get a drink at all

You seem to have got yourself some bees that don't play by the rules Maybe create a bee waterer - a basin with wood floating on the water may convince them to leave your chickens' water alone

 

[007Sean]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Glad to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]