Recommendations re best provision for water source ?

[BrianO]

Hi

New apiary site, Nuc and hive in but am at a loss to know how and where to provide a source for water for the bees, any advice welcome

Thanks

Brian

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Are there no natural sources nearby?
Font maybe?

 

[Nige.Coll]

drill holes around the top of a bucket and float some wood on the water in it.
holes stop bucket overflowing when it rains, wood stops bees drowning.

 

[oliver90owner]

holes stop bucket overflowing when it rains,

Interesting idea. Where does the extra water go?

 

[thenovice]

holes stop bucket overflowing when it rains,

Interesting idea. Where does the extra water go?

It seems you need to read up on fluid dynamics

 

[thenovice]

holes stop bucket overflowing when it rains,

Interesting idea. Where does the extra water go?

He meant black holes of course!

 

[Cazza]

Use something large enough so you don't have to fill it up often but shallowish so the water gets warm as this seems to be attractive for bees. (I use a horse feed bucket at home and a kidney shaped old pet bed away.)

Make a sloped beach from shingle/bricks/rubble so there is always an edge for the bees to get at.

Site it in the sun, away from a flight path.

Cazza

 

[ratcatcher]

why even worry about providing it? bees will find water, our club out apiary provides large dishes of fresh water, yet the bees choose to fly a few hundred meters away, to get water from a hot tub.

I've never provided water for mine

 

[Foxylad]

I have to provide water, as it's close to a house with a lot of dogs.

Bees kept drinking the water/urine from the kennels.

 

[ratcatcher]

water/urine

urine honey anyone

 

[enrico]

If this thread ever got into the public domain no one would ever buy honey again!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

holes stop bucket overflowing when it rains,

Interesting idea. Where does the extra water go?

Better off drilling holes in the bottom of the buchet if you're worried about overflowing

urine honey anyone

well, people buy manooky honey don't they? personally I'd rather snack on my own winnetts

 

[madasafish]

Ideally you need a source of brackish water with moss growing in it so the bees can drink without drowning.

A shallow plastic circular tray - as used for large plant pots - is available in range of sizes , colours and shapes from any garden centre. Add some moss covered stones and water..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I find that giving them the choice of a stream or a river within flying distance more than sufficient. Didn't even ponder about supplying water at the new apiary but I suppose the baptism well in the church down the road will suffice

 

[bontbee]

Bees are like chickens - give them fresh water every day and they go and drink in the grottiest, muckiest, mankiest puddle going. At least, mine do. Must be why the honey tastes so good

 

[BrianO]

Are there no natural sources nearby?
Font maybe?

Well now thats the question !!!

About 600mtrs theses a wall, over the wall is a small road then a house then a earth bank then circa 50 Million ( guess, there might be plus or minus 1 gallon ) gallons of water !!!

One of the main Dublin resevoirs... but my thinking is that this would not be suitable as is so large water is always lapping edge , assumed they needed a still non agitated source to drink from.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well now thats the question !!!

About 600mtrs theses a wall, over the wall is a small road then a house then a earth bank then circa 50 Million ( guess, there might be plus or minus 1 gallon ) gallons of water !!!

One of the main Dublin resevoirs... but my thinking is that this would not be suitable as is so large water is always lapping edge , assumed they needed a still non agitated source to drink from.

There you go - sometimes we can't see the wood for the trees. This thread got me thinking about my new apiary so I looked on googoe maps - two small fishing lakes within quarter of a mile, streams, a half acre garden pond less than five hundred yards as well as a mineral water bottling plant and the source of the river loughor to the North!! As for the reservoir, there will always be shallows and spots with grass dipping into the water - mossy areas etc. and if there are areas with concrete going down to the water - have a look to see how wet the concrete is a good few inches from where the water laps (remember bees only take up minescule quantities of water at the time. How do you think bees coped before people like us fussed with water baths and 'spring cleaning' their home every spring?

 

[BrianO]

Thanks, yes, will Googly it , probably right !

Though !!!

a mineral water bottling plant

Cant see them heading home with a six pack of "Peckham Spring Water"

 

[Nige.Coll]

holes stop bucket overflowing when it rains,

Interesting idea. Where does the extra water go?

onto the floor where else would it go ?

 

[BrianO]

Quote:
Originally Posted by oliver90owner
holes stop bucket overflowing when it rains,

Interesting idea. Where does the extra water go?
onto the floor where else would it go ?

Brilliant !! Every now and then you gotta laugh !!