Bees need water just like all living things, but they have some unique uses for water as well as normal body function. They use it to cool the hive during hot weather, to process the sugars they take in when being fed, and to maintain their nurseries (brood).
And interestingly, bees seem to prefer "dirty" water that smells a bit over clean water. Apparently it is easier to find that way and they may be obtaining trace minerals as they drink from questionable sources.
I've tried a couple of different options for keeping my bees in H2O, but my favorite so far is a large drip pan from a water heater. I just stopped up the hole with a piece of pvc with a cap attached and then added some rocks of various sizes along with the water (the rocks give them a place to land and drink from). I don't bother cleaning it out, but I just refill it as needed. I've located it near my irrigation system so that I can add a dripper to it should we go out of town to keep it full. And if it overflows, no big deal. A little extra debris from the grass and plants around it seems to appeal to the bees.
Just to update you on the bee saga... I tried not to fret over the weekend during yet another cold snap. However, they made it through, only to have to fight off robbing by some "foreign" bees today. I quickly added the entrance reducer, but when I came back a few hours later, it was a free-for-all. (And did I mention ants? This poor weak hive... if it makes it, it will be a miracle!)
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| A frenzy of bees from out of nowhere. |
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| Fighting at the hive entrance. |
{Sigh...} I feel so badly for these bees. This morning I'm going to further reduce the entrance and stuff it with some grass to slow down the robbing. Then I'm going to pray that these new bees move on their way and that they haven't killed my queen. There just aren't enough bees left to defend the hive and I suspect it may have already happened by what I saw late this afternoon. With so much going on, I don't see how they even have time to collect pollen or nectar. (Is this blog starting to sound depressing? I'm sure better days are ahead!)
Please share what you use to water your bees and any tips for hive robbers. I'm sure we could all use some ideas!
Poor bees :( Have you considered putting an anit-robbing screen on the front of the hive? I've not had to use one, but I hear they do a wonderful job at stopping robbers - and even skunks, if that is an issue. If you scroll down in this article, there is a picture of one of the screens. http://www.countryrubes.com/images/Robber_Bees.pdf I believe you can purchase them from Bush Farms, and probably others as well. I've seen directions on making them - a google should find websites.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the very best of luck and sending positive bee thoughts your way.
Awesome info ! I didnt know all that, thanx ! Your brave to keep bees, the last time I had an encounter with bees was when I was a kid and my dad and I were taking down a huge nest from the barn I was stung by hundreds of them all in my cloths, thankfully I wasnt allergic just very swollen and sore ! Have a great day !
ReplyDeleteDo you have another hive? You could add your weak hive to your stronger hive.
ReplyDeleteBees will go to the closest water source. If you have a swimming pool and that's the closest water source guess where they'll go? The pan in the blog is a great idea.
Yes bee's do need water! But, up until we visited a local beekeeper and learned all about the honey bee, I never knew this.
ReplyDeleteThe beekeeper we met, interestingly, fills a bird bath and places chunks of styrofoam floating in the shallow water for the bee's to drink out of.
You can see photos of my post here:
http://homegrownandbeeyoutiful.blogspot.com/2010/07/meeting-beekeeper.html
I'm really enjoying your post about your beekeeping. So very exciting!!!
Amanda
Homegrown and Beeyoutiful
{having trouble commenting with my google account}
Wow! Who knew. This is all so fascinating to me. I am just starting to learn about bee keeping to hopefully have our own hives next season.
ReplyDeleteI hope your hive makes it.
My husband dreams of having our own bees. One of our friends has a very successful bee farm and credits his healthy bees to the coconut oil he uses to keep those terrible bee mites away that have been wrecking havoc to many bee colonies across the U.S.
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
So sorry to hear about your bees. I appreciate your willingness to share as we've considered acquiring a hive in the future. Blessings, ~Lisa
ReplyDeleteOh, goodness! Your poor hive. I hadn't thought about robbers. I hope they make it through.
ReplyDeleteWe use a chicken waterer for the bees and just places trigs and rocks around the bottom for them to sit on. We haven't had outside bees attacking the hives but I did discover one morning about a week ago that a bear had ripped apart two of our 5 hives! We put up a fencer that runs off a car battery.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have a robbing problem I cover the hive with a wet sheet after putting in my reducer...it really makes a difference. I keep large clay pot saucers (really BIG) filled with marbles and rocks as bee waterers all around my apiary.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will all work out, Amy! We are definitely accidental beekeepers at our place. We'd always talked about it, but when the moment came (friend delivered a swarm and the basics).. we went into it very green. Just trying to study, keep a watch out, and hope for the best! I love the new Grit bee book in magazine form (about $7.00), but I'm sure it's the first of many bee books to come. Oh, and we water with a galvanized chicken waterer with dish towels stuffed around to keep them from drowning. Your pretty stones are much nicer - I like that idea! -Tammy
ReplyDeleteLynda, the wet sheet is a FABULOUS idea!! We're having a cloudy cool day, so no foreign bees so far. I reduced the entrance further and if the bees return, I'm definitely going to do the sheet over the hive. It's simply ingenious!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I'm SO SORRY to hear about the bear taking out your two hives. I've seen photos of this on other people's blogs and it's a sick feeling in the stomach - to say the least! I've purchased some NiteGuard Lights for this very reason, but I haven't put them up yet. Won't do me much good if I don't get on it!
IS it true that cell phones cause death of bees? I saw this on the news. Seems the cell phones make a pitch noise that kills bees????? Ture???? Any comments. Follow you daily. WE want bees next season. Virginia
ReplyDeleteHomemade Easy, I don't think so. Here's a good article on it:
ReplyDeletehttp://oneblockdiet.sunset.com/2011/05/by-margaret-sloan-sunset-production-coordinator-since-im-a-beekeeper-people-like-to-send-me-breaking-news-on-bees-last-mo.html
we use a large 12" dish from a flower pot. it's plastic with two rocks in it. use our rain barrel to fill it. no experience with robbing. sorry.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your bees they have just really had to fight haven't they?! Im rooting for them.
ReplyDelete