Honey bees and chickens

[Cringer74]

Bad day yesterday. I have a small beehive in the backyard, in the same area the chickens roam free. The bees were swarming and apparently identified the chickens as an enemy. My daughter noticed the chickens were in a frenzy so I put on my bee suit and went out there to see what was going on. The bees were all over the chickens. We ended up with two dead roosters. Has anyone else had something like this happen?

 

[Kessel23]

I have not had it happen, sorry you had to experience that
I have had yellow jackets swarm my turkey jake before, he ran out of there so fast.

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh no, sorry for your loss. Where are you located? Is that a normal thing for native bees? Chickens can have a dose of benadryl if they have swelling. The dosage is 1/4 of a 25 mg tablet.

 

[Cringer74]

I'm in Chino, CA. I've had my sweet little honey makers for about 2 years and they have never acted this way. I'm on just over 1/2 acre of land and have had plenty of room for everyone to harmonize together. The bees even went after my dogs as well. Maybe it's a spring thing? Maybe I lost my queen and they are upset. They've never, ever bothered the chickens before. I've had chickens for about 9 years now. I've just never seen this happen. I had an issue with hawks so we out netting over the entire chicken free range area. I never expected the bees to attack my flock.

 

[BlueBaby]

Could some of those Americanized one's have gotten into your hive and started inter-breeding?

 

[Cringer74]

I hope the Africanized bees have not made it to my hive. I have an expert coming out tomorrow for an inspection. I posted this because I really wanted to know if anyone else has had this problem. If so, I have a decision to make. Keep the bees or keep the chickens. It's like a kid asking who your favorite kid is, ya know? I love them both.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would keep udating your thread today just so more people will read it and respond. A lot of people tend to be online mid morning and mid evening.

 

[Chickassan]

No never, not in three years of bees have I ever had that happen. My bunch have been known to perch on the box without issue. Keep us updated, because that is odd.

 

[centrarchid]

I have had chickens around bees many times over many years without issue. OP, your bees are somehow different than mine or something got the colonies riled up.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

I have a hive and haven't ever seen the bees do anything like that. If they stung two chickens to death, I can see them doing the same to any animal coming next to their hive including myself. It would be insta-RAID on the hive.