Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

MEMBER BULLETIN BOARD => GREETINGS/TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF => Topic started by: Ed on September 13, 2013, 05:34:55 am

Title: New beekeeper
Post by: Ed on September 13, 2013, 05:34:55 am
Almost a year ago some bees decided they wanted to live in my backyard. After paying a removal company to get rid of them another group of bees showed up. I decided to pay for housing them instead of paying again for removal. Now I am up to twelve hives and just harvested about 60 pounds of honey. What do you experienced beekeepers recommend for a water source?
Title: Re: New beekeeper
Post by: amun-ra on September 13, 2013, 08:28:18 am
Rain
Title: Re: New beekeeper
Post by: tefer2 on September 13, 2013, 08:33:29 am
mother nature.
Title: Re: New beekeeper
Post by: Joe D on September 13, 2013, 10:29:14 am
I have a pond down the hill from the bees, about 125 yards.  Just me, but I give them a couple of buckets of water with Styrofoam piece in each, close to the hives. 




Joe
Title: Re: New beekeeper
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 13, 2013, 01:23:00 pm
They really love my pool. Grand kids keep cups near the edge to get them out while the are it it because even after cleaning every one of them out before getting in they still end up swimming with them.
Jim
Title: Re: New beekeeper
Post by: Moots on September 13, 2013, 04:40:44 pm
Ed,
Welcome to the forum...
Here's a link from a previous forum thread on this subject! (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,40472.msg344689.html#msg344689)

Per the advice of Bailey, who happens to be who I got my first bees from, I went with a half of a plastic barrel with some oyster shells in the bottom.  The sliced up pool noodles seem to work quite well also.  I also tossed a few gold fish in the mix to eat all the mosquito larva. It's been working great for me and my bees.  :)
Title: Re: New beekeeper
Post by: Ed on September 13, 2013, 05:07:47 pm
Ed,
Welcome to the forum...

Per the advice of Bailey, who happens to be who I got my first bees from, I went with a half of a plastic barrel with some oyster shells in the bottom.  The sliced up pool noodles seem to work quite well also.  I also tossed a few gold fish in the mix to eat all the mosquito larva. It's been working great for me and my bees.  :)

Thanks Moots. The thread on Bee Water is helpful. I tried a 5 gallon bucket with water hyacinths but haven't got any takers. There is a river about 1/2 mile from my house. I just hope my neighbors are getting hammered with bees.
Title: Re: New beekeeper
Post by: Moots on September 13, 2013, 07:27:38 pm
Ed,
It seemed like my barrel got little or no takers for weeks, if not months.  But once the heat of summer rolled in, they started wearing it out.  I know the bees are hard to figure out at times, but I just can't imagine them opting for a river 1/2 mile away if you give them a viable option within 10 to 15 feet.   :)

The half barrel really works well, I can leave it for extend periods without worrying about the water level.  One of the most important things concerning a water source for bees it that it be dependable and constantly available.  It's my understanding that they will sacrifice convenience for reliability.  :)

Good Luck! 
Title: Re: New beekeeper
Post by: GSF on September 16, 2013, 04:02:34 pm
Welcome.