Bees!!! They are all over the scratch grain!!!

[BellLisamo]

There are a million bees all over the chicken scratch!!! Does this happen to you? What should I do to prevent it??? Even the grain feeders don't work, the bees still get in there!

 

[RedfogsFlock]

we get them every year! We keep our scratch in our laundry room, but as soon as we put the feed out they are all over it!

 

[CMV]

Is it because the grain is fermenting? I've never had this particular problem, but I am curious as to why it would be happening.

 

[Zanna]

We have chickens and honey bees. This time of year our bees fly in the coop, into the chicken feeders in force!! They burrow down into the pellets to gather the soy flour. The protein dust is a replacement for pollen when nothing is blooming (they often starve out this time of year) and they can not get the real thing. They collect sevin powder which a lot of people use on their chicken for mite control and of course, people use it in their gardens. The sevin powder kills the bees and can kill a whole hive if they take too much back. I have not had them in my scratch, but they are just looking for the protein powder to feed their babies. My chickens are mostly out free ranging when the bees are in the coop but even if there is a chicken or two in there (sometimes the younger ones), they just keep their heads down and everyone goes about their business. They are a pain when I am trying to clean the coop, they fly about my height

I have never seen a chicken try to eat one, somehow, I think they know they can sting and leave them alone.

 

[obaan1]

That is interesting. Thanks for the post.

 

[EricH]

i was wondering why the bees were in our scratch too. I figured some molasses was on the corn or something.... or perhaps a little pollen is still on one of the kernels...

 

[mrsbos]

That sounds like something from one of my nightmares. I am terribly waspaphobic, though I can handle a singular honey bee or bumble bee buzzing around as long as they are totally engrossed in a flower. To have a group of bees in my chicken feed? I hope they aren't the killer bees (seeing as you're in Arizona). I specifically don't have a wooden coop (I have the plastic Eglu) because I know wasps would be more likely to build a nest on it, or hang out all over it to harvest the wood for their nests.

I was so hoping that the chickens would eat wasps, but I knocked down a nest the other day (it was only about 43 degrees out) that had a few groggy wasps in it, and my chickens would have nothing of them though they'll eat any other bug/insect in a heart beat. Darn stinging insects! If it wasn't for their effective pollination, I'd love to see bees and wasps wiped off the earth! I don't care much for honey.

 

[oldodonnell]

Hi,

Look at the responses you have already received. They are from across the country. It is likely that the binding agent used by your feed manufacturer is sugar based, and bees will be attracted to it. I get squirrels in the northeast. Keep it in a tightly sealed bin. start from there.

look forward to your response. I look forward to keeping chickens in the southern climates myself.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Bees don't have brood or young this time of year up north. but yes pollen is what they are looking for.

 

[BellLisamo]

Wow guys! Thanks for all the information! )
The chickens dont seem to care, but UGH i hate bees! They have stung my son 2 times already when he was a baby, and to see them in the feed just freaks me out!!!!
Maybe I'll buy some flowers and put them outside ahhahahaaaa.