BEES!?!

[warhorse]

This is weird! I live in south Texas and I have noticed, in the past week or so, bees... mostly hanging around the feed bins. I also just had a turkey lay down and die that had a welt on his head but no broken skin like the others pecked him or anything, just a big red/ purple welt on the top of his head and he was laid out flat, spread eagle- like. I know I was stung on the top of the head by a wasp and I was nearly laid out just like that. Is it possible the darn bees killed my turkey? Is there anything (holitistic) to do to get rid of them?

 

[cw]

we just had a day in the 50s here and you would see a few, real slow movin

 

[warhorse]

It's been in the 80's here, and they're still moving slow...

 

[cw]

they were just kinda floatin here,more wasp then any dam thing

 

[charlotteda]

Bees in coop ! (Assuming they are honeybees)

If there are a number of bees "scouting" around the wooden area of your coop but no clump of bees and maybe comb ? you might look at night and spray something to discourage them. Scouts dont normally "spend the night" when scouting out a site.

If it seems that bees have definately moved in.....and you are in an area that can have africanized bees.. leave them alone and find a knowledgeable beekeeper who can come with the appropriate protective wear and remove them.

As for the dead turkey.... I dont think the bee girls would attack him but they might accidentially collide and result in a stinging accident.

I know this forum is from many places around the country but here in my area.... bees are looking for pollen... and anything that resembles the smell or texture of pollen is attractive during this time of year when natural pollen is very sparse. I've seen them roll in sawdust and carry it back to the hive !

 

[Duppydo]

Honeybees are usaully pretty active in 50 to 80 degree weather.In my area on Long Is.NY it was in the high thirties yesterday and i had honeybees all over the place, crashing into the snow. They come out on warmer winter days for cleansing flights...
Honeybees don't usaully move slow or hover around when on the move, that doesn't really sound like honeybee behavior. They will gather stuff from grain bins,feed bins, bird feeders etc. when no pollen is available.It is possible your turkey got stung on the head by several bees/wasp whatever they are, and it killed him/her.

 

[silentrunning]

A few years back I stepped into a ground hornets nest. I received 72 stings in a matter of seconds. If it weren't for the fact that I have a swimming pool, I am sure I would be dead now. I spent almost half an hour going under water and swiming from one corner to the other to come up for air. The hornets finally lost interest and went back to their damaged nest. A local bee keeper wanted $1,500 to remove them and would give no guarantees. I went to K-mart and bought 4 of the quart size hornet traps. I put a chunk of meat and Balsamic vinigar in each one. It took about 2 months to depleat the nest by trapping them, but it finally worked. I am much more careful now when I go out on the back property and always look around before I mow or work out there.

Doug

 

[LynneP]

For flying insects, this will give you a solution lasting 3 months. It's called a no-pest strip and you'd need to hang it where the birds can't get it or enclose in hardware cloth or something equally as strong. It contains dichlorovos and will deter gnats, bees, mosquitoes, fleas, lice, flies, wasps....avoid hanging directly over water or feed. Used in homes it prevents fleas in all household pests.

Made by Black Flag and Vapona and sold at hardware stores, feed stores, tack shops, co-ops. ag supply outlets, TSC...

 

[Duppydo]

Wow..! $1500. is an outrage to charge for hornet/wasp remob=val...! what a crook...!
When i find a nest of yellow jackets( hornets) in the ground, i turn on the hose just as its getting dark and jam it down the nest entrance.
I just leave it running for sveral hrs. and that usaully kills the nest. If anyone does try this, don't lollygag around...! There are gaurd bees that will come out after you. Jam the hose down the entrance and haul your butt away quickly...

 

[BeckyLa]

You should call your local Agricultural Extension Office or Sheriff's Department (numbers in the phone book), either should be able to give the the phone numbers of local bee keepers that would be able to help you. And do it asap before they get well established.