Pool. What can I expect

[c10250]

Newb here, getting my first bees this year. I have a constantly-flowing rocky-bottom brook that will be about 25 yards from the hive. The brook is ankle deep. There are plenty of places a bee could land and drink in the brook.

I also have a pool 25 yards from the hive, used predominantly by my kids. It's covered when it's not in use, but the cover always has some water left on it.

Any ideas on what I can expect? I'm hoping they prefer the brook.

Ken

[Jeffzhear]

For whatever reason, I have honeybees that love chlorinated water:rolleyes:

[beedeetee]

I have a pond that is shaded for much of the day that has duck weed, skunk cabbage and moss (on rocks near the edges). At times in the summer it hums just like a hive with bees.

They avoid open water and seem to particularly like the moss covered rocks. They seem to avoid running water of the creek coming out of the pond. They also seem to like our bird bath, but the pond is alive with bees in the summer.

If you can make a calm water area with moss, duck weed and rocks, they may stay away from the pool, but I don't have a way to know for sure as I don't have a pool.

[bigbore]

from what I have seen, they will likely use the closest water site to the hive.
clorine or not, the kids pool might need to be moved, or the kids taught to play respectfully with the girls.

[tecumseh]

like children the bees are always lookin' for ways to aggrevate , enrage or raise the blood pressure of there parents.

distance is of course one consideration. any salt componds in the water is another attractant < since most bodies are salty adding sweaty bodies to a pool may make them especially attractive to the bees.

[peletier]

They will go for the pool, especially shallow puddles on the cover.

[c10250]

The one thing that might help me out though, is the fact that my pool isn't going to be opened until June. They will be here for 2 months prior to that. Maybe they'll get used to the other water source.

[trumpet01]

We have a large in ground pool.I also have water available closer to the hives.The bees seem to use it all. I placed a flower pot base next to the pool and keep it filled with pool water and some rocks.They seem to be attracted to the pool but will use the the water provided. I end up fishing bees out of the pool,but not a large number of them. Enjoy.

[USCBeeMan]

I live maybe 1/4 mile from Murfree springs, which is the start of a creek and swampy area. My neighbor has an above ground pool. I also have a bird bath around 20 feet from the hives.

I have never seen any bees at the bird bath nor any complaints from my neighbor about bees at the pool.

It's my understanding that once they find a viable source of water they rarely deviate.

[Bizzybee]

That is true USC. I have had some success in slowing down visits to a neighbors ornamental pond by putting water in entrance feeders. Summer dearth around here is when they are hitting the water hard. Strong hives will go through a 1/2 gallon feeder of water in less than 2 days.

I've put in a couple of small ponds and another above ground at the bees. It has helped a lot, but I still see a few flying across the road to greener pastures.

[Ravenseye]

I put chicken waterers out to slow the pool visits down. In my experience, once they latch onto a site, they use it even if they fly by closer sources.

[thera]

I have a large inground pool w/in 50 feet of hive. It's uncovered this winter and it's brackish with leaves in it (my lazy husband's fault :doh:). I've noticed very few visits to pool either last summer or this winter. I tried a bucket of water near the hive but they ignored it. They prefer the water in a small muddy depression in yard (my dog thinks the bees in the depression are her own personal stalking/stomping game) or any area where rainwater collects with leaf debris in it for them to stand on. These other sources are further than the pool.
p.s. I experimented last summer with using water in an entrance feeder and they loved it. Maybe that's why I don't have any problems.

[swamprat]

before i got me chicken water i made one using a jar and a frisbe.put jar upside down on frisbe with small wedges of wood under jar. llaced small stones in water for bees to sit on worked great.

[GaSteve]

We also have an inground pool within about 100 feet of a couple hives. When the pool first went in, the bees were all over it constantly hovering over the water and many drowned. They never stung though and the kids made a water game of "bee dodging". Neighborhood kids were not so comfortable:). I tried other water sources in various places but they ignored them. After a couple weeks, they pretty much quit hovering over the pool altogether. But whenever I bring a new hive into the yard, they go through the same process -- hover en masse over the pool for a couple weeks then totally quit.

The only potential issue is that they still love the little puddles on the pool deck from splashing or folks getting out of the pool. You just have to make sure not to step on them. I may try putting pool water in the bird feeder -- not sure if it will hurt the birds though. It is a salt water system.