Are the raising of Purple Martins and the keeping of Honey Bees compatible? How far should I keep a hive from the martin houses? Anyone with experience with this? Thanks!
Mike
Martins and Beekeeping
-
Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Martins and honeybees are compatible—landlords who are also beekeepers report that the martins may take a few bees but they won't zero in on them as a food source. Maybe someone can make a suggestion as to placement, but your martin housing should be out in the open, well away from trees. It can be close to your house. Check through the FAQs and other sections of the website for info on house placement if you are just getting started.
Louise
Louise
-
Guest
Thanks for that!
My martin houses are fully installed (58 houses). It is the bees that will be new.
I've already ordered the hives and bees. It just occurred to me that there could be a problem with predation on the bees. So, your words are encouraging.
My martin houses are fully installed (58 houses). It is the bees that will be new.
I've already ordered the hives and bees. It just occurred to me that there could be a problem with predation on the bees. So, your words are encouraging.
-
Guest
Mike, I don't think your martins will bother your bees much. Bees hang pretty close to the ground and martins normally feed much higher. However you have to watch out for the eastern kingbird. They are really bee getters. They sit low and will take a lot of your bees. All the old folks in S. Georgia where I grew up called them "bee martins" because they knew they would make inroads on a bee hive. Good luck with the martins and your bees. I had an uncle who was a bee keeper when I was a young lad and we always looked forward to the times he would take some of the honey from his hives.
-
Guest
That's amazing. I very seldom (if ever) see kingbirds around my house, but I will keep my eye out for them. I had 2 hives as a teenager - that was 40 years ago. Been wanting to get back in for years. Just now taking the plunge. They are at least as fascinating as martins (but a little more work)
I've kept bees for years now in my backyard and have had martins for several also. Both are a joy and are extremely entertaining.
My gourd racks and hives are only 50-60ft apart with a small shrub line in between. The hives are surrounded by 6ft cedar fence to keep their "beeline" going straight up instead of angling out when they exit the hive. There are no big kill off of bees and I always manage to get 100-200lbs of spring honey per hive.
However, when the nectar flow stops and the bees are not extremely busy gathering you will see anywhere from 1-5 bees following the martins when landing on the racks. I actually believe the dark color of the martins agitates the bees when they are coming/going from the hives. The bees probably also sense that these birds are sometimes using the bees for a snack.
It's really kind of amusing because the martins could care less if the bees follow them and really never pay any attention to them.
Both are my favorite birds/bugs in nature.
We all get big,big benefits from both, besides the "watching" each as they go about their routines.
In my opinion they are compatiable with each other.
My gourd racks and hives are only 50-60ft apart with a small shrub line in between. The hives are surrounded by 6ft cedar fence to keep their "beeline" going straight up instead of angling out when they exit the hive. There are no big kill off of bees and I always manage to get 100-200lbs of spring honey per hive.
However, when the nectar flow stops and the bees are not extremely busy gathering you will see anywhere from 1-5 bees following the martins when landing on the racks. I actually believe the dark color of the martins agitates the bees when they are coming/going from the hives. The bees probably also sense that these birds are sometimes using the bees for a snack.
It's really kind of amusing because the martins could care less if the bees follow them and really never pay any attention to them.
Both are my favorite birds/bugs in nature.
We all get big,big benefits from both, besides the "watching" each as they go about their routines.
In my opinion they are compatiable with each other.
-
Guest
Thanks very much for that. Very interesting. And encouraging!
How many hives do you have? Does the fence blocking sunlight in the morning slow the bees down?
How many hives do you have? Does the fence blocking sunlight in the morning slow the bees down?
Ive had as many as 8-10 hives and trying to establish a couple "top bar frame" hives.
Here in southeast Texas the fencing actually helps the hives because of the extreme heat/humidity.
I have 34 gourds(plastic) and all have the standard round hole entrance.
Plus a couple of wooden houses including a t14.
Plenty of Hosp and Starlings are also available to give the martins their share of anxiety. I try to manage a good,clean,looked after site so the normal enemies of the martins is just that,normal.
We do have the occasional sharp shinned and hoot owls do their thing but only rarely. The heat and the nest bugs I believe do more harm than any other along with the heat of summer. I'll continue to enlarge my site annually and hope for the best.
The moths,mites,heat,african bees, and scared neighbors are the biggest threat to the bees. I have given the love of the martins over to my all sides neighbors and this helps in management for everyone. The birds are there for everyones enjoyment and we all do, especially in the evenings when the birds come home for the nite.
It's always good to share ideas and feelings just like this forum because everyone benfits in some way.
Here in southeast Texas the fencing actually helps the hives because of the extreme heat/humidity.
I have 34 gourds(plastic) and all have the standard round hole entrance.
Plus a couple of wooden houses including a t14.
Plenty of Hosp and Starlings are also available to give the martins their share of anxiety. I try to manage a good,clean,looked after site so the normal enemies of the martins is just that,normal.
We do have the occasional sharp shinned and hoot owls do their thing but only rarely. The heat and the nest bugs I believe do more harm than any other along with the heat of summer. I'll continue to enlarge my site annually and hope for the best.
The moths,mites,heat,african bees, and scared neighbors are the biggest threat to the bees. I have given the love of the martins over to my all sides neighbors and this helps in management for everyone. The birds are there for everyones enjoyment and we all do, especially in the evenings when the birds come home for the nite.
It's always good to share ideas and feelings just like this forum because everyone benfits in some way.