invasion of 'bees'

17 years ago

Yesterday afternoon when I went to the chicken coop (OK that's all I'll say about chickens), I saw and HEARD a huge number of "bees" on mostly the chicken feed (a shell corn poultry base mix from the feed mill) on the floor or verious nesting boxes (I feed the chickens inside in the winter). I spent the next two hours shoveling everything out and putting in fresh pine shavings. I dumped the soiled bedding/feed in a the field. The bees followed it. But this afternoon they were back in the coop--fewer of them, to be sure--and others were on the chicken feed in the pen. I was in and among them for a long time and was never stung. I did not see them coming and/or going out of any opening. this is our third year and this is the first time I have seen them. I got a picture and they look like the picture in my guide of honeybees but I'm sure that's wrong. We live in NE Wisconsin--it just got warm the last couple of days. Is there anyone out there who has an idea of what this might be and what to do about it.

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Comments (9)

blueberrier1
17 years ago
claraserena, could you define the bees' shape, size, color, etc?

Many bees use protein as food and since it is the start of the season, they are probably eating and or storing food. In my years of raising chickens, have never seen this in the pen. Global warming? LOL.

Here in KY, already have many "wasp" type bees flying about the outside of the house windows. Noted the first bumble and mason bees today on the apricot and peach blossoms.

Intereseted in follow-up.
cella jane
fancifowl
17 years ago
It could be honey bees if you have had a couple warm days. Their hive might be low on food so they are searching and got a whiff of something in the feed which attracted them. The honey bees here are dying off in large numbers this year,its critical.
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claraserena
Original Author
17 years ago
I'm going to try to post a picture
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/claraserena/Image144.jpg

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:37972}}
instar8
17 years ago
I have honeybees, and yes, they are very attracted to ground corn early in the season, apparently it has a lot of the elements of pollen, which is what they're really looking for, as a protein source to begin building up new brood.

I keep a lot of bird feeders, and they have literally swarmed them this year, until i bought some pollen replacer to feed them.

Yesterday I noted that they've found natural pollen, their 'breadbaskets' on their back legs are loaded with pollen, probably from silver maple and other trees. Haven't seen them near the house since, except to get water from the birdbaths.
Dibbit
17 years ago
If there are few flowering plants, including trees, yet, then you could make some sugar water (I would think the same formula as for hummingbirds would do - 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, bring to boil and cool), and set it out in a shallow pan away from your hens, and dogs, etc. I think I would bring it in at night - no point in encouraging 'varmints'!
claraserena
Original Author
17 years ago
If these are bees are they honeybees? Would they have a hive nearby--or even in an eave of the chicken house? How far from their hives would they go? We were thinking of getting honey bees but not exactly this way. I don't want to kill them if they are honeybees. I will try the sugar water trick. Thank you!
instar8
17 years ago
Are you still having problems?

If they are honeybees, and they are pretty distinctive, and just the fact that you have a lot of them at your corn makes me think that's what they are, they probably belong to someone nearby.

I'll see if i can find a picture...
instar8
17 years ago
Here's some nice pics of bees, you have to scroll down a few posts.

Here is a link that might be useful: honeybees
claraserena
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks to all of you. When I compare my pic (on my second posting) to the one instar8 sent they do look alike. DOn't honeybees sting? These never came near me, nor did they bother the chickens though I think the chickens were freaked by the buzzing.
Would it be possible to get these bees into a hive? I read in JOhn Seymours's Self-sufficiency: INdependence on 5 acres that you can make a hive (of a coil of rope I think). But I think he said you had to capture a wild hive and I know you'd need a queen. If honeybees are this non-aggressive, I think I could talk my husband into keeping some (we have 20 acres). I know I could go to the bee forum but if we want to diversify on this forum (I'm not giving up talking about chickens though!) maybe some of you know--I'm amazed at how much knowledge is out there!

invasion of 'bees'

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invasion of 'bees'

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