View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
SamH Guard Bee
Joined: 26 Mar 2016 Posts: 50 Location: Chichester, UK
|
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 6:25 am Post subject: Bees and horses |
|
|
Just a quick question, do bees really dislike horses? My partner keeps horses and I'm thinking of setting up bait hives around her paddocks, but wonder if they'll be attracted to an area near horses.
Thanks |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Barbara Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 1857 Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
|
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 10:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have bees and horses and although I keep my bees in the garden at home and my horses about 100yds away, I often see my bees up in the stable yard sometimes foraging on the muck heap.
I often stand amongst my hives watching the activity on my way too and from the yard and will therefore smell pretty strongly of the horses and it has never been a problem with the bees.
I think the main problem is that horses are flighty and if they do get stung, unlikely as it is, they are inclined to react quite extravagantly. I guess the worry is that someone might get trampled or the horses injure themselves in such a panic response, which is why it is probably best to keep them separately. I don't think the bees particularly have a problem with horses although people will no doubt say that their furry brown coats will resemble bears.
I imagine if a horse has access to the hives and is curious enough to poke their nose near the entrance or try to scrub against it, then that is when problems are most likely to occur.
That said, a swarm arriving to enter a bait hive might panic a nervous horse. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Tavascarow Silver Bee

Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 962 Location: UK Cornwall Snozzle
|
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 11:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
I wouldn't site hives where livestock has access. They all like a rub & knocking hives over wouldn't be nice for all involved.
I've kept bees in the same fielsd as cattle, horses & sheep but fenced & entrances facing away.
Bait hives are better raised 8ft or more above ground so if a swarm moves in they will be well above the horses. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
madasafish Silver Bee
Joined: 29 Apr 2009 Posts: 882 Location: Stoke On Trent
|
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There have been occasional cases of horse stung by bees and these can cause major problems.
http://tinyurl.com/zl8ssvn
IF you mix bees and horse, you must ensure bees are forced to fly above horses to prevent problems so screens (hedges,fences, walls etc) to ensure that happens..
Otherwise at some date you are likely to have problems with unpredictable results and the risk of injury to horses, riders or worse. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SamH Guard Bee
Joined: 26 Mar 2016 Posts: 50 Location: Chichester, UK
|
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks all, very useful thoughts. My plan is to set up a bait hive either on the roof of one of the many sheds/stables, or in a tree at the boundary of a paddock. I would intend to relocate any colony that moves in at the earliest convenience. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
|
Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
|
|
Barefoot Beekeeper Podcast
|
|
|
|
4th Edition paperback now available from Lulu.com
|
site map
php. BB © 2001, 2005 php. BB Group
View topic - Bees and horses - Natural Beekeeping Network Forum
|
|