Honey Bees & chickens??????

[4HillsSumatras]

Wandering if anyone keeps honey bees & cickens? I am thinking and doing my research on honey bees. Would like to get some in spring. the place I want to place the hives is about 30-40' from the back corner of our run. The bees will travel in all direction. Only thing I am worried about is the birds trying to catch them and getting stung in the throat. Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

 

[pascopol]

I do not think chickens will eat honeybees, but other species like Guineas will.

 

[matthewschickens]

I keep both

Never had any trouble

 

[NHchicks]

4HillsSumatras, I applaud you in your honeybee quest. I'd love to have honeybees too someday. They seem really neat. Altho I do believe they are a lot of work? Unfortunately, my chickens don't seem to eat wasps, I'm wondering if they avoid stinging insects. I wish they would eat wasps...

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
I keep both and the chickens do not bother with the bees.

Actually chickens are a lot more work than the bees. You can pretty much leave the bees do their own thing most of the time. There is some work in the spring making sure they come out of the winter OK, making sure they have adequate room in the summer to expand , harvesting the honey and fall feeding & winterizing. You do not need to do anything on a daily basis as you need to do with chickens. You can even go on vacation without getting a "beesitter" to watch them!

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
I keep both and the chickens do not bother with the bees.

Actually chickens are a lot more work than the bees. You can pretty much leave the bees do their own thing most of the time. There is some work in the spring making sure they come out of the winter OK, making sure they have adequate room in the summer to expand , harvesting the honey and fall feeding & winterizing. You do not need to do anything on a daily basis as you need to do with chickens. You can even go on vacation without getting a "beesitter" to watch them!

I'm gonna be a bee keeper. Where did you get your box's etc. ? Thanks. 7L

 

[sgtmom52]

There are many places to get hive equipment. We have purchased some online from places such as Mann Lake, Better Bee and Brushy Mountain. We have also purchased some locally from small wood shops and have even made by ourselves.

We got our first bees from a local breeder preferring Northern Bred bees over those shipped from the south. We increased our hive total through making splits from our existing hives and capturing swarms.

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

I agree. My chickens scratch around the hives all the time, and neither bother the other.

 

[4HillsSumatras]

Thanks all! That does it. I'm having bees in the spring. I've found some great books I'm now reading & have been talking to some local keepers. Can't wait for that first batch of honey

Sgtmom52- how long have you kept bees? Do you mind if I ask some questions about them?

 

[woodmort]

Chickens will eat bees and wasps if they get a chance but don't seem to be bothered if they're stung so don't worry about it. BTW, want to be sure the PO calls you that your shipment has arrived, order bees.

I always got mine through the mail--back in the day when Sears sold them--and the PO would call as soon as they came in the door.