Water for Bee's, Koi ponds, neighbors, salt....

[JWChesnut]

My hardworking bees collect water from my neighbor's landscaped Koi Pond.  This causes a bit of friction. Dad is accepting, Mom irritated and the kids terrified of the wild and dangerous insects.

I have  a  landscape pond too, with no fish.  Some bee activity but not on the scale of the neighbor's cafeteria.

We put up pans (inverted trash can lids) near the hives, but the bees remain fixated on the Koi.

My neighbor "salts" the pond, evidently this important to keeping the expensive fish in good health.

I think the bees may be drawn to the salt, just as it is reported the look for horse urine (haven't observed that personally).

Does anyone have any suggestions for making an alternative source of water more attractive to my hives than the neighbor's fish ponds.  I could:

• 1) salt the pans (would I get unruly deer drinking the water),
• 2) sweeten the pans (sounds like inducing robbers)
• 3) get a Koi for my pond (maybe it is the fish taste the bee's are attracted to).
  

I would be interested in hearing from anyone else with experience with drawing bees to a particular water source.

[Sparky]

Some may have had different results but I have never had any luck putting a water source very close to the hives. If I put them at least 50yds. or more they would use them. The salt used for fish is to rid the pest that gets in the gills and can make the fish ill and could be added to water for the bees as a attractant and helps to control mosquito larva and algae. If you put some Koi of your own in your pond they to will help to clean it.

[hankdog1]

I would say it's the salt that they are after.  I've seen bees working the ground out next to my shop where i pee cause i'm too lazy to go up to the house and because i don't have a neighbor anywhere around lol.  Maybe someone can tell you how much salt and minerals to add to your water source since i haven't got a clue other then telling you to go outside to pee  :-D

[sterling]

I haven't done this but I was at a beekeepers meeting and one of the speakers said he put meneral salt in his bee water. He used block salt that is used for goats.