Don't forget the water!

[pistolpete]

Something that I don't see mentioned a lot is water for the bees.   Early spring is the time when bees need the most water.  For the rest of the year nectar provides a lot of the moisture a hive needs, but before the first honey flows start, they need to bring in water to dilute all their stored honey and the fresh pollen coming in.     I find that providing water about 100 feet from the hives works well.  I use a hose set to just drip on to a sloping board and they're on there all the time.    I'd rather they go there than some stagnant drainage ditch.

[LazyBkpr]

good post!
   I tend to forget about water. I have two ponds on the property, one RIGHT next door, and the crick about four hundred yards away so water isn't usually a concern by me and is easily overlooked.

[brooksbeefarm]

All my hives have water within a 100 yards. I have a spring in my yard with watercrest in it. It amusing to watch the bees stand on leaves and get water. Jack

[Jen]

It's going to be a problem for us here in CA. There just isn't any water! Our water bill goes sky high in the summer so we let the lawn go dormant for 3 months. I'm going to have to fashion something for the bees for sure. Thanks for the reminder Pete 

[brooksbeefarm]

Jen, alot of my club members use boardman feeders to water there bees. Jack

[LazyBkpr]

Once time for syrup is done you can always put that water by the porch so you can sit and watch them. Not as frantic as feeding but still very enjoyable way to bring your bees close so you can enjoy them.

[Jen]

"Jen, alot of my club members use boardman feeders to water there bees. Jack"

"Once time for syrup is done you can always put that water by the porch so you can sit and watch them"


   I think you guys just solved my water problem. Thanks! 

[riverbee]

jen, like jack and scott said, boardman's are a great way to provide water for your hives, just set them in the hive, or place them on your porch, myself i would probably do both, but they work really well set right in the hive. 

bees need water all season. i don't worry too much about water, live on a river, and water from the gardens, but do use boardman's for new hives.  no matter what you give them they will still find the stagnant water somewhere, or in the city a neighbors pool, your birdbath or the neighbors.
like pete said though, supply water of some fashion as he does well away from the hive. the bees short distance gps doesn't work well a short distance from a hive on something fixed, unless a boardman right on the hive, or it has rained, or some sprinkling system.  with a short distance in close proximity of the hive they tend not to find it and are unable to communicate to their sisters that it's there.

[tbonekel]

Boardman feeder's sound like a good idea. Right now, my bees are getting it from a bird feeder about 50 feet away from the hives. Right now it's not too difficult to keep a supply going. This summer when we start getting into a dearth (and we will), I thought about using a 5 gallon bucket and placing some of those packing peanuts in it to cut down on drowning. That way, they will have a good supply for several days at least.

[Jen]

Hey tbone! that's a good idea! however, I am opposed to styrofoam, so I've been having my friends save their wine corks, the real cork not the synthetic cork. I cut them into medalions and the bees seem to like it. I call them bee boats  I think I'll be making more gardening pots with bee boats and the boardmans as well.

[tbonekel]

That is really a great idea! I'm not that thrilled with using the Styrofoam either. I'm probably going to try to find something that works better. 

[kebee]

 I have a wash tub fill with gravel that they can craw on to get the water, I also put salt in it for they love the salted pool water so that is what they are getting.

Ken

[riverbee]

leave it to jen to use wine corks.........

great idea!!!!!

[blueblood]

Yeap!  I won't have any worries about lack of water.  We have tons sitting around from winter snow and spring rains.  I need a large sump pump for the whole county. 

[LazyBkpr]

Hey tbone! that's a good idea! however, I am opposed to styrofoam, so I've been having my friends save their wine corks, the real cork not the synthetic cork. I cut them into medalions and the bees seem to like it. I call them bee boats  I think I'll be making more gardening pots with bee boats and the boardmans as well.

   hrm.. wait!!   Captain Black has corks... I think they are synthetic though...   oh well!  Need to free up more corks!!!