Why are there so many honey bees around my hen's water?

[Evan2408]

I recently got 5 bee hives. I've never had a problem with bees but now all of a sudden the hen's water is swarmed. Will the bees hurt my girls? I've been reading and everything says to get guinea hens. I have guinea hens and they're not doing the trick! Can anyone help

? Also, the picture I have attached shows when there are barely any bees. There is usually 40-50.

 

[Highcotton]

Quote:
From some of my past bee keeping days I remember that bees have a water requirement. They use it too cool the hive in hot weather. Maybe you could try providing them a water source near the hive.

 

[ibreathe4u]

I'm having the same problem. Only they aren't my bees, they belong to the neighbor behind me. I'm glad to have bees for my garden, but they're everywhere. The bees around the water aren't aggressive, but I have been stung and attacked by his bees at other times.

 

[SunnySkies]

Bees need water. If you provide a source close to the hive, they might leave the waterer alone.

 

[centrarchid]

My bees go after water when nectar flow minimal and temperatures are high. They always have need for water but much of the need is met through nectar brought in from flowers. When nectar supply dwindles they have to get into honey stores which have much less water. During cold weather water produced by metabolizing honey meets needs but with hot weather increased demand for water is because it used for evaporative cooling of hive.

I do not associate bees going for water with aggression.

 

[Evan2408]

Thanks for the advice

 

[lazy gardener]

I'd put out a bird bath with a few rocks to give the bees more "landing strips" so they can get all the water they need without bothering your girls.

 

[Highcotton]

Quote:
I know this has been posted for a few weeks but I thought about this as I saw your post. Bears racoons and other furry animals love honey so they are always raiding bee hives. Don't go near bee hives with dogs or other furry animals. I have seen an otherwise calm hive become agitated and sting when a dog walked by. Honeybees are reluctant to sting unless they feel threatened. Unlike other stinging insects the honeybee leaves its stinger and venom sac behind and dies when it stings.

 

[SmokinChick]

So you got bee hives now you have a bee problem then you get GF to eat bees now the hives are empty. Did I forget anything!