Posted 2014-01-16 9:50 PM Subject: Bees in my buckets
Elite Veteran
Posts: 600 Location: Oklahoma & Texas
Ok...soo for the last month or so I have had a bit of a bee problem...I've noticed after I turn my horses out in the morning after they've had their breakfast that bees have been invading their feed buckets...to the point of 20 or 30 in a bucket...in every bucket that had grain in it or residue from grain.. I feed nutrena safechoice original to some and mare and foal to others..they all get a small handful of a flaxseed supplement too...I cant figure out if its the supplement that is attracting them or the safechoice but its becoming a nuisance...I've gotten in the habit now of dumping every bit of residue out when I turn them out but now if I feed grain before dark they show back up at dinner time and won't let the horses eat...they will swarm the feed if its in the bucket and there'll be bees covering their food...horses won't stick their faces in their buckets though but they'll stand next to the buckets and stomp their feet and toss their buckets...the bees arent real aggressive I can unhook the buckets without getting stung ...just wondering if anyone else has had a problem like this or has any idea what is attracting them into the barn...what ingredient in the feed maybe or supplement...I havent located a hive...
Posted 2014-01-17 1:30 AM Subject: RE: Bees in my buckets
I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264 Location: stray dump capital of the world
I would look for a hive. There is bound to be one with that many showing up. We have an old shed on the back of our property. I began noticing bees and located the hive in the shack. Once the bee keeper came out and cleared them up, we looked inside. One wall was completely covered in honey. The bee guy said they were as thick as thieves in there. Be careful of them too.
Posted 2014-01-17 10:18 PM Subject: RE: Bees in my buckets
Elite Veteran
Posts: 600 Location: Oklahoma & Texas
Thanks ya'll...I'm gonna go on a hunt for the hive tomorrow...maybe I can find it and call a bee keeper..also gonna try that bee catcher idea that just might work!!
Posted 2014-01-18 10:24 AM Subject: RE: Bees in my buckets
Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
I've got the same thing going on. I think its because it's been so dry and cold. Too cold to grow plants to get pollen-but not cold enough to make the bees hibernate. They're hungry! I've noticed them really really wanting into my rice bran. I even had to stand guard the other afternoon and keep the bees out of my mare's tub until she was finished. She must have gotten stung-she has a very serious suspicion of them and won't eat when they're in there.
Bees in my buckets
