Hey fellas, I have chickens that I like to free range in the evening. I watch them very closley to make sure they aren't bothering the bees. They often feed within a few feet of the hives (3) and even chase grass hoppers near them but, I have never seen them try to peck at the bees even when they are bearding or even doing their orientation flights. I also have friends that have bees and free range chickens and they have told me they have never witnessed the chickens trying to kill their bees on the entrance boards however, I am still concerened. these chickens love bugs. how come they aren't bothering the bees? have yal had any experience with this? Have the birds just not figured out that the bees are there and delicious or what? Thoughts appreciated. Thank's, Brad
My hens have been out 24/7 since March and I have not fed them once since then. They have scratched up all around the hives but I have never seen them bother the hives or the bees bother them.
If you watch them at dusk, you will see them pick wax moths off the hives. They will not bother the bees. They are an asset to the bees, not a danger.
My free range chickens have never bothered my bees. And if they did they would wise up real quick with their featherless faces exposed to stings. I like to believe that nature loves nature and the balance is set.
This spring I had a Summer Tanager songbird that fed dawn and dusk at the bees entrance for a few weeks. That too, worked out just fine. Check and balance.
I have heard that guineas like bees and eat them like candy if the hive isnt protected with fencing.
my dad raised chickens when i was growing up and i was always under the impression that chickens would eat anything. of course we did not have any bees. i find that very curious, perhaps they might be scared of a bunch of bees, maybe they would eat a bee that is all alone, or maybe not.
I have bees and chickens and have never had a problem.
Something to be said for not eating insects that sting.
I bet if you ever had wax moths get into your equipment they could fatten the chickens up :evil:
Honestly, I have a hunch they may not like the taste of adult bees. I have tried offering them drones and have seen workers walking across concrete away from the hive and my chickens just won't go for them. IMO they have learned that they just don't care for the taste of bees.
On the other hand they absolutely love brood! I often give them drone comb from cut outs and they fight over it!
...JP
Yep I have 5 hens that free range on the property and they NEVER seem even interested in the bees. Heck the chickens and bees often drink from the same water source. I agree that the bees must not taste well or the chickens learned early on that the bees are armed and dangerous.
I have, unfortunately, chickens in my backyard.
They do not bother the bees and vice versa.
One time, I've seen a chicken get stung and the poor chicken started yelling uncontrollably. :-D
However, when I clean the bottom boards underneath the screen board, there sometimes come since there are wax moth larvae.
Same when I open the lid, there are a few earwigs hiding there and chickens love them.
Chickens and bees are totally compatibile....they have no interest in the live bees, they are only mildly interested in the dead ones, but they get real excited when you toss out drone comb and larvae.
There are guineas and wild turkeys that feed around some of my hives and I have never seen them bother the bees. I hope they eat the SHB.
I've had free range chickens and bees for more than three decades with no issues. I would be hesitant to have chickens who were penned right next to the hives where they couldn't run in an attack.
We just started keeping chickens this last spring. Only once did we see a chicken vs. bee incident. Bee chased her around the yard. Like the dog...lesson learned.
saritacoleman Im looking for the like button. Thats funny because I have seen that happen
I too have bees, and chickens, I haven't seen them interact or bother each other at all. I have a feeling that the chickens know what bugs sting and which ones don't and try to stay away. The only incident I have seen with a chicken vs. stinging insect was my fault. I had a huge paper wasp nest growing in one of my cherry trees. I had tried to spray them but that didn't work. So one day I took some rock hard pears and stood about twenty feet away and chucked them at the nest to try and knock them down(I was tired of not being able to mow within a 20 foot radius of the stupid nest and I nearly hit it with my head while mowing before I knew it was there). One of my former roosters decided he wanted the pear and ran after it when I threw it. It glanced off of the nest without knocking it down. The hornets/wasps came out in droves and unfortunately saw the rooster going for the pear. Never seen a bird run faster before or after. Lesson learned, by me and him. :(
Thank's fellas, you have relieved my fears and me and the now CONSTANTLY free ranging chickens appreciate yal. Brad
I'd agree with all the above as a chicken haver AND beekeeper :)
It is funny, isn't it? My free range barred rocks never once have gone anywhere near the hives. Course this is the first year the hives have been here, but so far, so good! I have more trouble with the darn cat by the hives! She hasn't got stung yet, but she gets awfully close.
I have always had chickens, but just got my first hive last spring. I remember sitting on the back porch watching my new hive of bees and the chickens came around the corner. After a few minutes of scratching around, one hen raised her head for a look around. She was about 2 feet from the bottom board and the guards caught her eye. It was almost like a 6th sence kicked in and the hen immediatly walked off. I was in awe for a minute! Mother Nature works in many ways.
Quote from: stella on August 18, 2011, 12:15:45 AM
I like to believe that nature loves nature and the balance is set.
I do not now about chickens and bees ???
But BEARS and BEES
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Yeah, chickens are fine w/ bees and visa versa. However, I have a family of chipmonks living under one of my hives, been there all summer with no problems at all. I think they eat whatever falls through the SBB. They have no fear of the bees.
thomas
We have some psycho chickens. I can't let them loose, they'll tear up my garden and start robbing the worm bed. When they do get loose, I have seen them wander under the hives without fear, looking at the activity but never trying to catch or otherwise harass the bees. I've also never seen them clean anything from under the hives, they beeline for the worms.