Bees!!

[scoopsmom]

Has anyone had a problem with bees swarming your chickens food?! It's getting pretty bad and it's still winter, I hate to think of how it will be in spring and summer. I believe a neighbor has decided to make honey which is causing this surplus of bees. I tried putting an open container of mountain dew somewhat nearby but they haven't touched it. I read planting mint helps but if I plant it in the chickens area they will just eat it all. I'm going to try just outside their reach. I'm not sure how much to plant though?

Anyone else have other solutions?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

They are basically using it as a pollen substitute. I'd not think they'd be attracted to pellets. Are you feeding mash?

Also amazed to hear bees are flying around. See your in Texas but still, my hives are under and surrounded by few feet of snow....

 

[Abriana]

Maybe plant a flower garden with lots of flowers that bees are attracted to so they’ll give attention to that instead? That’s strange that they’re attracted to chicken food. What are you feeding?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Imagine there isn't much pollen in Texas winter. Besides moving to pellet feed, if your not already, you could mention to your beekeeping neighbor that they are looking for pollen/need it. If he supplemented a substitute to the hives they'd leave your feed alone.

One easy pollen substitute is brewers yeast, powdered milk, vitamin C and sugar water to make patties. He'd just put a large patty on top of each brood box.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Maybe plant a flower garden with lots of flowers that bees are attracted to so they’ll give attention to that instead? That’s strange that they’re attracted to chicken food. What are you feeding?

Bees require an amazing amount of pollen and nectar. We're talking acres not gardens. Obviously the weather has been on a warming trend and the bees are gearing up for brood rearing down south already. Heck, it's just a month and many hives will be moved to the almond orchards in Cali.

 

[scoopsmom]

I feed my chickens Purina Layer Crumbles. I have a young hen with crop issues so crumble is better for her.
Yes I think it's weird to have a bee problem in winter too! About a week ago it was in the 30s & 40s. It's in the 60s now but about to go down to 40s/50s in a few days.
dont think the chickens mind them too terribly much, but I do! We're talking like 10 bees swarming their food and I like to sit with my chickens sometimes, which is hard to do with bees all around.

 

[cottontail farm]

Are you sure they are honeybees and not a type of wasp/yellowjacket? Both my parents and I have kept honeybees along with chickens for years and I have not seen this happen... Water dish yes, but not to feed. Wasps however might be interested in the protien in the feed.
If they are honey bees they won't be leaving the hive when it gets below about 45/50 degrees.

 

[Mylied]

I have a hive and the bees leave the feed alone. They do like the waterers.

Coming from someone who also has a fear (used to be much worse) of bees, honey bees are pretty docile. They won't mess with you if you don't mess with them. Sit and enjoy your chickens and ignore the bees. Swatting at them just irritates them and puts them in defensive mode.

 

[sourland]

@Egghead_Jr is right on the money. They are attracted to the feed as a pollen substitute. Once local trees/plants go into flower they will leave your feed alone.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

10 bees!

Sorry but that's kind of funny to me as a beekeeper. They won't bother you at all and if the neighbor gives them a substitute they'll be gone. Also as soon as the first bloom starts they'll be gone.

Here is a swarm I collected last year. Few more than 10 bees...Worst part of this is I got them from a ladder and had to lean far into tree, almost fell off when they dropped into tote I was holding and then when I pulled it back through the branches the tote poured thousands of bees onto my veil to block out light and almost fell off ladder again...