Bees drinking water off bottom board

Cindi · March 13, 2007, 11:13:30 AM

So, I have installed the varroa nator plastic screened bottom boards on my old solid bottom boards. The mesh is galvanized. I purchased these last summer and have 4, did not use them, so I thought that this season I would install them in my hives.

When I put the terrarium heater in my two sad little colonies, I placed the heaters below this screened bottom board so the bees couldn't walk on them.

Now, we have had incredible rains for a couple of days, and I mean bad. There have been flooding all over the place that I saw on the news last night. I saw this one woman in Maple Ridge that does pig rescues and her whole property was flooded. She had to bring about 30 (or so) pigs into her house to keep dry and warm. Now that is a human gone above and beyond the call of duty. I know that pigs are clean and they probably went poop in her bathroom, not in her house (LOL). It makes me actually want to get a couple of pigs now. Why not? We have the room out the back and I know that my sister would love to build a confinement for them. She is such a builder.

Anyways, man can I get off track.

My question that I started so many words ago is: will bees use water from the bottomboard that has collected from rain that may have puddled on it to raise their brood? I would imagine that of course the puddles outside would be much more sanitary.

I was even entertaining the thought that perhaps the water on the bottomboard may have some health benefits to the bees, in that there would more than likely be some pollen that may have fallen down from the pollen patty that may have good use for the bees.

The bees poop outside, so there would be no poopy water in there. Have the best of the great day to come. Cindi

Understudy · March 13, 2007, 11:41:23 AM

bees drink water from the most disgusting sources. I have a bird fountain I keep clean for the bird with fresh water. Do the bees drink that? Noooooo

Instead they go over to my soil pots that I have out and drink the water from the muddy nasty soil.

I have seen them drink pool water and from the edges of mud puddles. My attitude is this, if the bees are drinking they probably have a better clue as to what they want then I do.

So if the bees are having a happy hour drinking water from the galvanized mesh bottom, I say let them bee.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Mici · March 13, 2007, 11:51:30 AM

like understudy said, they're smart. they now they'll get more minerals and stuff from the water in the soil or whatsoever, better than our tap water.

Kathyp · March 13, 2007, 12:51:53 PM

i noticed that some of the comb i have sitting outside waiting to be melted, molded. it was the stuff with the pollen in it. if you have water on the bottom boards and other 'stuff', would you risk mold growing in there?

Understudy · March 13, 2007, 01:07:03 PM

Quote from: kathyp on March 13, 2007, 12:51:53 PM
i noticed that some of the comb i have sitting outside waiting to be melted, molded. it was the stuff with the pollen in it. if you have water on the bottom boards and other 'stuff', would you risk mold growing in there?

Exposed comb outside the hive is a mold factory waiting to happen. In the hive if the comb gets wet and the bees cannot dry it out you would also have a problem. However a strong hive shouldn't cause any worry.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

BEE C · March 13, 2007, 03:16:10 PM

Cindi,
I know the pig rescue lady. She is always looking for people to adopt pigs responsibly. She is really into animal rescue. If you really want I can get you hooked up with her. I was going to get a pig from her a while back but she was trying to get me to keep it indoors. Its spring now and she is in great need, so if you had a space outside with covered shelter she would really appreciate someone like you.

Understudy · March 13, 2007, 03:23:28 PM

Quote from: BEE C on March 13, 2007, 03:16:10 PM
Cindi,
I know the pig rescue lady. She is always looking for people to adopt pigs responsibly. She is really into animal rescue. If you really want I can get you hooked up with her. I was going to get a pig from her a while back but she was trying to get me to keep it indoors. Its spring now and she is in great need, so if you had a space outside with covered shelter she would really appreciate someone like you.

If I get a pig I will name it Kosher. That way no one eats Kosher. :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Cindi · March 13, 2007, 11:57:15 PM

Quote from: BEE C on March 13, 2007, 03:16:10 PM
Cindi,
I know the pig rescue lady. She is always looking for people to adopt pigs responsibly. She is really into animal rescue. If you really want I can get you hooked up with her. I was going to get a pig from her a while back but she was trying to get me to keep it indoors. Its spring now and she is in great need, so if you had a space outside with covered shelter she would really appreciate someone like you.

Steve, so keep me in mind. I will not house any kind of animal inside of my home, except for me my clean dogs, or my husband and myself (we are human). I could not guarantee that I would live up to her standards. I could provide a great shelter, but I am not going there because I think that she would be so anal that she would come to my place all the time to see if I was taking care of her stock. Nope, don't need criticism, I love the bright side of life, I know that I take care of stuff, and to get brought down into drudgery, is not my bag. I am a rescuer, be it human or animal, but I do not take kindly to any kind of criticism on my caregiving. I am a perfectionist, alll the way around. Best of the most beautiful day. Cindi

BEE C · March 14, 2007, 05:08:08 AM

Cindi,
She would not have an issue with pigs in an enclosure outside. It was winter when I was approached to keep a pig. I don't have an enclosure. Thats why she was wanting me to keep one inside. She keeps lots of pigs outside in little sheds in enclosures. Her pig pens and enclosures got destroyed when it flooded. The alouette river backed up and it rose about eight feet on her property, scowering away soil like a creek bed. She is an eccentric woman, but has a big heart. She is so busy with her pigs I seriously doubt she would have time/desire to check out your care of your pigs. I know what you mean about not wanting to get dragged down into drugery though, I think the above message gave the wrong impression of her.

Cindi · March 14, 2007, 11:25:15 AM

Steve, OK, PM or phone me with the pig lady's number. I am also going to ask my sister if she wants to get a few pigs or not. She would be the one that would want to fix up a building, she is the builder. I would need to also know a bit more about how to look after pigs, i.e., fencing before I took any on. Never kept them before. I hope this lady does OK with the clearing in the skies we have had. Her place looked really bad on the news the other night for sure. Best of the best days. Cindi