Okay so in the last week or so the bees have been out and thats not normally a problem. But now they are all hovering around the feed for my ducks and goose. What causes this? Other than scaring my ducks from the feeder, they dont seem to be hurting anything. But there are quite a few of them. How can I get them away from their food? And is this a normal thing? Thanks in advance !
Something about the smell of feed/bird seed seems to activate their foraging drive. If you will watch closely, you will see that they are actually trying to fill their pollen baskets. The only times that I have noticed this is during the 'off' seasons when it becomes abnormally warm and the bees are out looking for provisions.
What kind of "bees" are they? Are you sure they are european honey bees or perhaps something else (bumble bees, mason bees, or possibly wasps)? Is the feeder close to the waterer? Honey bees (and other bees) require water to both cool the hive and cure honey. If it has been unseasonably warm, perhaps they need some air conditioning . Also, as sourland stated, the warm weather may have tricked them into thinking it is spring and they could be attracted to something in your feeder. First thing to do is find out what type of "bee" it is. After that, find out what they are doing there. Collecting water? Tricked into thinking the poultry food is a flower? Something else?
