Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: dING on June 12, 2011, 08:57:47 pm

Title: Keeping a hive in a chook pen
Post by: dING on June 12, 2011, 08:57:47 pm
Just revamped my back yard and made a fairly large chook pen

But it now takes in the area where I used to keep a couple of hives

Wishing to move some hives back into my yard in the spring

Was wondering if anyone has kept a hive in a chook pen

And with what results --- did the chooks eat the bees ??
Title: Re: Keeping a hive in a chook pen
Post by: AllenF on June 12, 2011, 09:20:13 pm
My chickens runaround the backyard and don't really bother the hives.   They have scratched all around them all day long, but they have just so much to eat other that the bees being free range birds. 
Title: Re: Keeping a hive in a chook pen
Post by: iddee on June 12, 2011, 09:29:24 pm
They will eat the wax moths when they try to enter the hives..... A good thing.
Title: Re: Keeping a hive in a chook pen
Post by: dING on June 13, 2011, 03:19:53 am
Thank you for your comments Gents

Didnt think it would be a problem

But wasnt a 100% sure


Title: Re: Keeping a hive in a chook pen
Post by: Michael Bush on June 13, 2011, 04:47:07 am
I have had chickens and bees for a very long time with no issues, but the chickens were always free range and could run as far as they needed to.  I would never put bees in a pen with animals who don't have room to run away.  I've seen really vicious bees that would attack 100 yards away from  the hive.
Title: Re: Keeping a hive in a chook pen
Post by: dING on June 13, 2011, 10:06:02 pm
Just as a aside my Bees are not allowed to get bad tempered or sting

I have put up a notice about that and am very strict

They know that they will bee chastised if they break the rules

Main punishment being the old queen is banished to the rear of the hive

In the dark where nobody can admire her gorgeous frocks ect

And the chock pen is quite large 50% of my backyard
Title: Re: Keeping a hive in a chook pen
Post by: AllenF on June 13, 2011, 10:52:02 pm
But how big is your back yard?   Mine is 14 acres.
Title: Re: Keeping a hive in a chook pen
Post by: dING on June 13, 2011, 11:18:21 pm
You win