Honey Bee Sanctuary - NOT!

[WannaBeHillBilly]

To all beekeepers and @JurassicBawk and @chickm1, what are some specifics on a bee watering hole? What is best because I am gonna make these bees the best watering hole they’ve ever seen. Maybe after a few days of luxury at their own hole they will forget about where I water my dogs and chickens. This has been a PITA.

Can the water be in the direct sun? Other than the bricks and rocks that I already have, what plants do the little buzzers like to rest on while drinking? I am on a mission now...to gain my water back!

One of my uncles was a bee-keeper and he always had a flat pan full of pebbles and water close by the bee-house. The pan was located within an old bird-feeding house, so it was covered from above to protect the bees from bird attacks.
On hot days the bees were all over it and it had to be refilled 2-3 times a day. - And not only bees, all kinds of insects were visiting this water source, it was like an oasis for them.

 

[Mimi13]

One of my uncles was a bee-keeper and he always had a flat pan full of pebbles and water close by the bee-house. The pan was located within an old bird-feeding house, so it was covered from above to protect the bees from bird attacks.
On hot days the bees were all over it and it had to be refilled 2-3 times a day. - And not only bees, all kinds of insects were visiting this water source, it was like an oasis for them.

It’s as good as done...once the morning comes. I will make a tray with small stones as well. Thank you.

 

[WthrLady]

Mine is a birdbath near the hive full of stones all the way to the top of the bath. This lets the bees crawl to the water.

I still occasionally find a dead genius floating in the animal stock tanks. All you can do is all you can do.

 

[CindyinSD]

I’m not really worried, more aggravated than anything. They are causing a problem because the dogs and chickens are not going up to the bowls/tub to drink/stand. To begin with there were just a few bees holding on for dear life around the edges of the water, however, now there are as many as 50 or more (at times) buzzing around the spots in the yard where each water source is. I have nine watering holes throughout the yard and run. They are covering my spigot handle and don’t like being shooed off for me to use it. Luckily I have not seen any bees on the horses’ water troughs. This year is like no other. This has never happened before.

It is so dry here the poor deer are coming into our barn (automatic waterer) to get water. I just spooked six of them this morning. Our two ponds in the front pasture are completely bone dry. That’s usually where the deer drink.

Wow! Apparently we got all your water, Mimi. Our lower pasture was swampy most of the summer. There’s still significant standing water next door where it has NEVER lasted past June at the latest. Wish I could pipe some your way where it’s needed.

 

[JurassicBawk]

Mine is just a kiddie pool with floating grass/hay for them to be able to land on and a mineral block inside it. What someone else said about the tray with pebbles works great also. As long as they have somewhere to stand and not drown, they're happy.

I used to have a disappearing waterfall until I had outdoor electrical problems and turned it off. It was just a tub buried into the ground with the top of it ground level, with window screen covering it and pebbles on top of the screen. Then a small aquarium pump took water from the tub and up to a little pile of rocks that made a "waterfall" so the water bubbled over them then back into the tub. It kept out mosquitos and bugs but gave birds and bees somewhere safe to drink, and rainwater mostly kept it full so it was low maintenance.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Disappearing-Water-Fountain/

 

[WthrLady]

I LOVE THOSE!

 

[Apis mellifera]

My bees and chickens often share water dishes with no problems. But if you would like to provide a separate watering location for bees, you can condition them to a new location. Bees are very odor sensitive and are attracted to water that has an odor to it, like chlorine in swimming pools. ACV, bleach, lemon grass oil will attract them to a new location, you only need a few drops. The older foragers will be harder to condition but new ones will take their place in the new location you provide. Foragers only live 4 to 6 weeks. One of the best waterers for bees with no fuss is the black rubber Fortiflex feeders you get at TSC or most feed stores. For whatever reason they rarely drown in them and if they fall into the water they quickly buzz to the edge and climb out, no need for sticks, twigs, leaves, or rocks. In full sun, the water warms up and also seems to attract them. Just put it in a location that your chickens cant get to or don't care for, like a table.

 

[WthrLady]

I think mine like the rubber because the sides are rough and they can creep to the water and can easily climb out if they fall in.

 

[Mimi13]

My bees and chickens often share water dishes with no problems. But if you would like to provide a separate watering location for bees, you can condition them to a new location. Bees are very odor sensitive and are attracted to water that has an odor to it, like chlorine in swimming pools. ACV, bleach, lemon grass oil will attract them to a new location, you only need a few drops. The older foragers will be harder to condition but new ones will take their place in the new location you provide. Foragers only live 4 to 6 weeks. One of the best waterers for bees with no fuss is the black rubber Fortiflex feeders you get at TSC or most feed stores. For whatever reason they rarely drown in them and if they fall into the water they quickly buzz to the edge and climb out, no need for sticks, twigs, leaves, or rocks. In full sun, the water warms up and also seems to attract them. Just put it in a location that your chickens cant get to or don't care for, like a table.
View attachment 1895367

These are exactly what I have setting around in four different spots and, YES, the bees love them. That rough, fibery (I know it’s not a real word) texture helps them hang upside down on the side.

And I might just put a tad of ACV in the cheesecloth pan. The bees are doing well with it, but I also have all my other ones empty and dry.

 

[Mimi13]

Mine is just a kiddie pool with floating grass/hay for them to be able to land on and a mineral block inside it. What someone else said about the tray with pebbles works great also. As long as they have somewhere to stand and not drown, they're happy.

I used to have a disappearing waterfall until I had outdoor electrical problems and turned it off. It was just a tub buried into the ground with the top of it ground level, with window screen covering it and pebbles on top of the screen. Then a small aquarium pump took water from the tub and up to a little pile of rocks that made a "waterfall" so the water bubbled over them then back into the tub. It kept out mosquitos and bugs but gave birds and bees somewhere safe to drink, and rainwater mostly kept it full so it was low maintenance.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Disappearing-Water-Fountain/

Thank you for showing me this invisible fountain idea. I really love it and will contemplate all winter long just where I’ll put it and how I’ll decorate/design it. My DH has not been made aware of this...yet.