Honey bees stealing chicken food

[sugarbush]

I am also a beekeeper and any of the other beeks who read this will know exactly why they take the feed. Pollen is protein and they need it this time of year to raise brood and build up the numbers for the summer. They will take the best source of protein available in the spring. For now the best source seems to be your chicken feed, but as soon as a better source blooms they will leave the chicken feed a lone.

Given your location I think the next best source is going to be the dandilion bloom in about 6 weeks.

 

[ODS-n-ENS FARM]

My cracked corn feeder (not for the chickens) was crawling today with honeybees. Told DH "quick build a hive!" lol I am just hoping they return when the gardens get growing. Edited to add my feeder only has plain cracked corn .

 

[ODS-n-ENS FARM]

Quote:
FANTASTIC PHOTOS!!

 

[mountaintopchicken]

Too curious not to google a bit... I looked up protein and bees, and apparently there are protein supplements that can be purchased by beekeepers to give to their bees.

I found a web page on protein supplements for bees :

Soy flour – Soy flour is the main non floral protein supplement for honey bees rations.

It comes in two forms, either Expeller press which has 6% soy oil, or Defat soy flour (chemically extracted) which has only 2% soy oil. The crude protein level is 48% 50%. Soy flour is more of an adult bee feed and appears to assist in making adult bees more active while on a honey flow.

Expeller press soy flour is more palatable to the bees than defat soy flour. This was demonstrated in trials conducted on the preference or palatability of protein feed for bees, Expeller press soy flour is good when there is limited pollen available. Defat soy flour is satisfactory when reasonable volumes of low quality ground flora pollen is being collected by the bees.

Soy is also the most common protein supplement in layer pellets. I guess those bees know what they're doing!​

 

[norm65]

I live in Indiana and I also experienced honey bees in my feed if I leave the lid off for any amount of time. And yes they are honey bees. My dad used to keep bees and I know the difference between them and ground hornets. Norman

 

[Spires6]

I have honeybees swafrming my birdfeeders since it got warm. Don't remember ever seeing that before this year. They are picking the cracked corn out of it.

 

[BoutiqueCats]

I am also a beekeeper and any of the other beeks who read this will know exactly why they take the feed. Pollen is protein and they need it this time of year to raise brood and build up the numbers for the summer. They will take the best source of protein available in the spring. For now the best source seems to be your chicken feed, but as soon as a better source blooms they will leave the chicken feed a lone.


Given your location I think the next best source is going to be the dandilion bloom in about 6 weeks.

 

[BoutiqueCats]

I have honey bees in my chicken feed, too; I found this:

http://peacebeefarm.blogspot.com/2010/01/bees-in-chicken-yard.html?m=1