Bee Poop in Neighbours Yard, Need Help... Please

[Newfounland Jeff]

I have seven colonies that are ~130 feet away from my neighbours patio, maybe more and they are experiencing poop droppings on their patio and hot top cover. Also the bees are flying directly between their house and the detatched garage. My bees are 12' - 15' above their back yard but they bees are flying down hill towards the river collecting pollen and nectar. Later in the year they will shift as clover comes online in the opposite direction but I need to address the problem now.

I have been thinking about moving my bees back into the woods in an enclosed area which would force the bees to go vertical ~50 feet in the air before they can fly horizontal to potential pollen and nectar sources.

Does anyone have any suggestions that would allow me to keep my bees in my yard rather than find a new bee yard?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also the dandilions have just come online in the last two weeks but what ever nectar and pollen sources the bees are into is not a really nice smell. Does anyone have any ideal what nectar/pollen sources could cause such a thing?

Thanks

[beecron]

Unfortunately, I think your idea of moving them is about the only option for now. You obviously can't control where they choose to defecate. If they river is also their water source, they may also continue down that path after that nectar flow stops, continuing the problem.

[Adam Foster Collins]

I wish I knew how to help - then maybe I could keep them from pooping all over my car.

Good to see a Newfoundlander here, Jeff. My girl and her daughter are from Gander. As I understand it, there aren't many beekeepers up there.

Adam

[Ignots]

You could try getting a 40gal horse trough and placing it close to the hive for a water supply, that's what I do with mine in 2 locations with a 5 gal one with mineral salts in the water. Make floats for it.

[papamoose]

What about providing a closer water source using a chicken feeder, or a cattle tub, with some floating material so that the river across the neighbors is not the closest source. Just keep a cool supply every couple of days for them, and if possible a little movement to keep the water from stagnating.

[JRG13]

As ignots said, try to give them water, most places require you provide water for you bees to avoid just the problem you describe, if they're going for water that way.

[PeteBridwell]

Good thing you're raising bees and not geese!

[the kid]

isn't it funny ,, they put a bird feeder 3 feet from the deck , , the birds crap all over the deck , land in the tree hanging over the drive way ,crap all over there car , the bird crap wrecks the paint on the car , and they laugh and say thats just birds ,and craps on your deck ,and car , nothing you can do about it , just wash the car 3 times a week ,and stay off the deck , BUT a honey bee craps on the deck ,, or the car ,, hey you have to get red of those bees or I'm calling the city ...

[Riverratbees]

Can he prove they are your bees do they have identification tags.LOL

[TheBuzz]

They're after the hot tub I bet. Do what I plan. Get a plastic half wine barrel or kiddie pool. Get sme water plants shown here and then the bees won't care.

http://www.glenn-apiaries.com/beepond.html

[BayHighlandBees]

are the bees just coming out of their hives for the winter up in NF? If so perhaps this is a once in a year type of severity? I imagine the northern canadian bees really have to hold it in for a long time up there

[TWall]

Jeff,

I'm not sure if higher but on the same flight path will help or not. Anything you can place in front of the hives will help encourage them to gain altitude quickly.

I have one hive in my backyard. It is a small yard fenced with a six-foot privacy fence. The sits facing a young crab apple tree. The bees spiral up out of my yard and are typically roof height, two story home, when they leave my yard.

Tom

[Acebird]

Obviously they want the bees gone so they dreamed up this excuse. If you solve this problem they are probably going to think up another problem. I think you should move and find new neighbors or ones you can't see from the windows in your house.

[Newfounland Jeff]

Well Friday I walked down in their yard to take a look. The wind was blowing hard and the bees were actually at eye level flying between their shed and there house. Because it was so windy they were moving slowly through their yard. If I was a person who didn't have bees I would also be concerned too. More so I think they are heading towards the river for more than just water. There are a good number of trees/plants flowering down along the river this time of year. last year it wasn't a problem as mt neighbours 2 story shed did not exist. NOw the bees are funnelling between the house and shed. Later in the summer as differet floral patterns come online the bees will no longer taking this flight path. Also he builds homes for a living so he will be moving shortly.

Also after closer inspection the colonies are about 170 - 200 feet away from the neighbours house. My neighbour on the othrtside has no isses. There house is ~140 feet away from the hives. Theyhave been nice about the whole thing and have told me I do not need to move them but they still have concerns. Also I placed them on the hill so they would be above eyesight but still no evale.

Any suggestions? Thanks

[BayHighlandBees]

so it sounds like its not a poop issue but how low the bees fly to the ground in your neighbors yard. I live in suburbia so my neighbors are much closer than yours but I do have privacy fences that surround my property. Like Tom, my bees spiral up when they leave my hives and they remain high up as they fly towards their destination.

[robherc]

Jeff, would an 8'-10' privacy fence be practical for where you are? If not, maybe you could reduce the number of bees crossing between their home & garage by open feeding until other flowers come into bloom...obviously not a permanent solution, but it may keep 'em "close at hand" until better forage becomes available in OTHER directions.

[Acebird]

Also after closer inspection the colonies are about 170 - 200 feet away from the neighbours house.

Are you kidding, that far away. Do you know anybody that can let you borrow one of those wooden tool sheds that you could put the hive in so he can't see the hive anymore. Make sure it has a lot of ventilation. When is he going to move?