Poly hive getting nibbled

[KeithFife]

View attachment 38337Going round doing OA treatment today and noticed something has been nibbling at all four corners of this double nuc. Anyone care to guess if it is a badger, fox or other? I dont expect any repair or deterant is going to put them off so probably best to move it to another apiary and repair in the spring?

 

[KeithFife]

View attachment 38337Going round doing OA treatment today and noticed something has been nibbling at all four corners of this double nuc. Anyone care to guess if it is a badger, fox or other? I dont expect any repair or deterant is going to put them off so probably best to move it to another apiary and repair in the spring?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

rat

 

[JamezF]

rat

That would be my first guess too.

James

 

[KeithFife]

That would be my first guess too.

James

Yes they do seem to be high on the list of suspects. Thanks both. Will move to another spot before they do any more damage. I must have been lucky not to have had this happen to any over wintering polynucs until now.

 

[Sutty]

Could try painting the corners with some strong chilli oil

 

[KeithFife]

Could try painting the corners with some strong chilli oil

Interesting. Have you had success with this? Bear in mind these are Scottish rats so might not be put off by a spicy takeaway!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Bear in mind these are Scottish rats so might not be put off by a spicy takeaway!

maybe try a salad or a vegetable based coating?

 

[JamezF]

maybe try a salad or a vegetable based coating?

Or leave out some deep-fried pizza and wait for them to die of a heart attack?

James

 

[Martin S]

Looks like a dropping near the strap, a bit small for a rat?
Baby haggis maybe?

 

[KeithFife]

Looks like a dropping near the strap, a bit small for a rat?
Baby haggis maybe?

Good detective work, but I am fairly sure that haggis faeces is tartan.

 

[pargyle]

rat

Yes I reckon you are right...they seem to enjoy nibbling on polystyrene...I had a poly roof stored in my garden shed and a rat nibbled a section out of it.

 

[Sutty]

Interesting. Have you had success with this? Bear in mind these are Scottish rats so might not be put off by a spicy takeaway!

Not tried it myself (not had the need).
It does make sense though as chillies produce capsaicin (the hot stuff) to put off rodents but not dissuade birds (insensitive to it) from spreading their seeds.

 

[JamezF]

Not tried it myself (not had the need).
It does make sense though as chillies produce capsaicin (the hot stuff) to put off rodents but not dissuade birds (insensitive to it) from spreading their seeds.

Indeed. I'm sure I've read that mixing hot chiles with bird food can cause squirrels to lose interest in robbing feeders.

James

 

[Garry R]

I had a hamster as a boy which ate a very small part of a chilli which had got into its food mix accidentally. I wondered what had happened as it went berserk in its cage and was really distressed. I checked its food from then on.

 

[Mabee]

Looks like a dropping near the strap, a bit small for a rat?
Baby haggis maybe?

definitely an elusive wee haggis!

 

[Amari]

View attachment 38337Going round doing OA treatment today and noticed something has been nibbling at all four corners of this double nuc. Anyone care to guess if it is a badger, fox or other? I dont expect any repair or deterant is going to put them off so probably best to move it to another apiary and repair in the spring?

This is what wasps did to my polys, as I've previously posted:

 

[Erichalfbee]

This is what wasps did to my polys, as I've previously posted:

Heavens.
Trying to get to a syrup lake by any chance?

 

[Amari]

Heavens.
Trying to get to a syrup lake by any chance?

Yes, well diagnosed!
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/wasps-nibbling-polyhive.56126/

 

[RichardBeeW]

Following Dani’s suggestion on making lighter roofs I’ve been using this without any trouble at all for three years, I think. This year I noticed several areas of damage and repaired with aluminium tape. There was a shifty looking nuthatch sitting in a branch overhead, almost looked like it was whistling as it looked away. Next morning even the repairs had been pecked through so replaced with a metal roof (plus 50mm insulation - put in by me) from Gwenyn Gruffydd bee supplies in Cwrt Henry, Carmarthenshire - £17.99 each - National Beehive Galvanised Assembled Roof 4"(100mm) Deep - European Style by Thomas Apiculture