Woodpecker protection

[Stedic]

There was a woodpecker attack on the hives of another beekeeper about 50 yards from my out apiary last year. My hives were unaffected although we did often here woodpeckers so they are definitely around. The attack was discovered after the late snow we had. There are some abandoned hives nearby that haven't been touched by the woodpecker in years, so might just have been desperation.

Anyway, it seems sensible to protect my hives this year. I know it is too early to do it now but am thinking I'll get myself prepared.

What is your recommended method? I have 2 WBCs and 3 nationals to protect. The nationals are all on the same stand. I'd like to avoid plastic if I can.

 

[Ian123]

The WBC’s should be ok I’ve only ever seen 1 that they have had a go at I would presume it’s down to the double wall. I’ve had sites with loads of wood peckers and no bother to hives yet other sites they love the hives, so would think it’s a learnt behaviour. I pin a piece of plastic feed bags to the side of hives and that prevents most interest. I only would normaly bother though if they become an on going issue. They have made a nice mess of a few poly boxes though

 

[masterBK]

Here are a range of solutions but some do involve plastic

 

[coffindodger]

I don't have woodpeckers, but crows and they attack the hives, having a real effect on the poly hives. Last winter I made a polystyrene box which fitted over the hive and covered it with the one-tonne bags used for delivering sand etc to builders. This seemed to work and the hives stayed dry and un-molested. Instead they turned their attention to destroying the car wing mirrors!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I don't have woodpeckers, but crows and they attack the hives, having a real effect on the poly hives. Last winter I made a polystyrene box which fitted over the hive and covered it with the one-tonne bags used for delivering sand etc to builders. This seemed to work and the hives stayed dry and un-molested. Instead they turned their attention to destroying the car wing mirrors!

Crikey!
The most our crows do is steal the hens’ eggs

 

[Julie in Ash]

I once saw a video by a Beekeeper prone to woodpecker attack who surrounds his hives with a chicken wire barrier in winter and has good results. A circle of it a few inches away from the hive. Not sure if I'm allowed to mention who it is but it's a British beekeeper who does educational videos on Youtube.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I've always used a strip of 9" builders DPC wrapped around the box and pinned at the join.
I don't use in my garden because we only get pied woodpeckers but the out apiaries in fields seem to get green woodpeckers.

 

[mintmoth]

I once saw a video by a Beekeeper prone to woodpecker attack who surrounds his hives with a chicken wire barrier in winter and has good results. A circle of it a few inches away from the hive. Not sure if I'm allowed to mention who it is but it's a British beekeeper who does educational videos on Youtube.

I tried chicken wire last year but found it a bit of a faff, and it's impossible to cut it and wrap it around a hive without leaving sharp pointy ends somewhere that snag your suit or clothes or gloves.

I've put aluminium mesh on the poly roofs - I suspect the pecked holes last year were done by young pheasants thinking they'd found a new feeder, rather than green woodpeckers, although I've seen a few about.
I shall wrap the sides either in flappy plastic, or the silver radiator insulation stuff - the shiny should discourage both birds.

 

[Millet]

This is such a simple problem to solve..

 

[Stedic]

This is such a simple problem to solve..

You're not suggesting the issue can be solved by reducing the number of woodpeckers, are you?

I like the QE idea, especially as I have a few knackered ones. I did think about getting some weld mesh cages made up, but it's another thing to store when not in use.

 

[Jimmy]

I like the idea of the hawk bird scarer kites, as suggested by ITLD I seem to recall. Unfortunately my apiary is on a pheasant shoot and they may have a different view so I use chicken wire. Unless we get prolonged snow coverage the pheasants are more of a problem, pecking away at the hives and I think enticing bees to venture out when they'd be more use staying clustered in the hive.

 

[Beefriendly]

Lead pellets projected at high velocity.

 

[Millet]

Lead pellets projected at high velocity.

... i was thinking of something else but that would do the trick.

 

[masterBK]

More possible solutions

 

[Millet]

I like the idea of the hawk bird scarer kites, as suggested by ITLD I seem to recall. Unfortunately my apiary is on a pheasant shoot and they may have a different view so I use chicken wire. Unless we get prolonged snow coverage the pheasants are more of a problem, pecking away at the hives and I think enticing bees to venture out when they'd be more use staying clustered in the hive.

Pure rubbish but the person who thought of them will be quids in.. Not my Quid though.. i have seen them fail many times ..

 

[Millet]

More possible solutions

A old picture but look at the Walnut piece of lumber on the stock..