Water is an important element in the life support of bees. Its presence is necessary throughout the year, but especially during the period of the first cleaning flights and the development of young animals. Simple drinkers for bees will provide the necessary supply. It’s easy to make them yourself.
The value of drinking bowls with water for bees
It is not permissible to ignore the presence of the bee drinker. Even if there is a reservoir near the apiary. The presence of a simple device will exclude the death of the family and provide an optimal drinking regime.
The insect does not know how to swim, satisfying its thirst near the reservoir, it will simply drown. The beekeeper is obliged to ensure the constant availability of clean water at the optimum temperature. The drinker should allow the bees to drink, excluding the danger. Therefore, most drinkers have safe rafts (a piece of wood) to prevent insects from killing.
Important!
Each bee family needs at least 30 liters for the entire honey harvesting season. water.
There are various types of bee drinkers. They are made independently, purchased in the retail network. Each has certain characteristics, but meets the requirements.
Types
Each apiary uses a different drinker. They can be individual for each family or common. But a prerequisite is compliance with standard requirements:
- install such containers before the first cleaning flight;
- provide free access;
- exclude possible drying out or lack of water in the drinking bowl;
- place better in places protected from wind and direct sunlight;
- the drinker is not difficult to care for, it can be simply removed and washed;
- control the temperature, which should not be cold or hot.
Placement of the bee drinker
Models are different, their permanent location depends on it. This way the bee doesn’t have to look for a new source. Drinking bowls are placed depending on their purpose.
Individual ones are placed near each hive. Common somewhere in a well-visible place in the apiary. Many beekeepers use both types of drinkers to eliminate possible lack of water.
Features of the bee drinker
The water used by bees is involved in ensuring the activity of all systems and metabolic processes in their body. This is especially important in early spring, when bees spend a lot of energy on arranging honeycombs and caring for young animals. It is important that the water containers are close to the family’s habitat.
It is necessary to ensure that the bee does not drink cold water in the first days of spring. This leads to the death of insects. Experienced beekeepers recommend keeping two types of drinkers. One contains clean water, and salt is added to the other container. The salty liquid is consumed by bees with great pleasure. The main thing is not to overdo it, since it is not advisable to add more than 0,1% salt. This is about 1 gram per liter.
Hive drinkers
These are individual types of drinkers, which can be located inside the hive or the container is located outside, and the bees consume water inside the hive. They are distinguished by certain features:
- it is not very convenient to control the amount of water that is inside the hive;
- located outside in cold weather can contain cold water, which is dangerous for bees;
- Drinking bowls located next to the entrances can prevent the free exit of the bee from the hive.
Advice!
It is advisable to install intrahive only for the wintering period. In the warm season, their presence in hives or in the area of the entrances interferes with the free movement of insects.
Vacuum drinkers are in great demand among beekeepers, which are replenished without the need to open the hive.
Heated
These types of drinkers are relevant in the first days of spring, when the bees make their first cleansing flights. The need for water is high and, if it is cold, the bee dies more often. It is important to think over a heating system in order to exclude massive death of insects.
Ready-made models of heated bee drinkers are on sale. It is not difficult to make them yourself. Sometimes it is enough for the homemade drinker to be painted black. Then the water in such a container is warmed up by the sun’s rays. Many beekeepers add a small portion of boiling water on cold spring days. This is done early, before dawn, before the bees begin to fly out of the hives.
Seasonally
It is important to use a different type of drinker for each season. Bees’ behavior changes due to weather conditions.
Spring
In the spring, it is more profitable to use external drinking bowls for bees, so as not to clutter up the entrances with extraneous structures that impede the free exit of insects from the hives. Usually boards are used in which small grooves are cut. From the common tank, water flows into these slots. It warms up quickly and makes it possible for a large number of insects to drink water at the same time. Such devices are placed next to the hives, the water is supplied in drops by gravity.
Winter
During the wintering period, internal drinking bowls are used for bees. They are purchased ready-made or made on their own. It is better to use vacuum models at this time, which do not require opening the hive and do not pose a danger to bees.
The drinking bowl is in the taphole, the water container itself is located on the outside of the hive. The round container is designed for inserting a plastic bottle. It is important to ensure that the water does not overcool.
Vacuum
A vacuum drinker has a number of advantages. The most important benefit is that there is no need to open the hive to replenish water supplies. They are easy to use and are located on the outside of the hive. They are adapted for plastic bottles, glass jars and completely exclude insects from entering. The container is installed upside down on the lid. The lid is filled with a minimum amount of water gradually. In addition to ease of use, such drinkers have a number of characteristic advantages:
- do not present any difficulties in leaving;
- allow you to control the amount of water and fill the container in a timely manner;
- provide bees with clean drinking water;
- warm up quickly in the sun;
- are simply made by themselves.
Such drinkers, due to limited contact with air and the ability to control water quality, exclude the growth of various bacteria.
Making from a plastic bottle
Making such a device with your own hands is not difficult. In order to make a drinker for bees with your own hands, you will need simple materials. They are available in every subsidiary farm.
Before making a drinker for bees, carefully study the instructions and only then start making.
Materials and Tools
For the manufacture will need:
- plastic bottle;
- a piece of foam or wood;
- knife;
- pencil;
- ruler;
- Scotch.
Step by step guide
This manual describes the process of making a plastic bottle drinker for bees. Do not use too large containers. The water must not stagnate. It is advisable to change it daily.
- Cut a bar out of wood or polystyrene, the size of which is 7×12 mm. The width of the bar is no more than 2 cm.
- Mark the block with a pencil. The lines should split the material in half.
- Place the neck of the bottle in the center of the block and trace with a pencil.
- Cut a round hole, but not a through hole. Its depth should reach the middle.
- Draw a groove from the circle using a clerical knife. The depth is at the depth of the hole and the length does not reach the edge.
- Puncture a hole in the bottle cap.
- Fill the bottle with water and insert upside down into the block. Water will immediately begin to flow through the chute. If not, enlarge the opening in the neck.
- With the help of adhesive tape, secure the entire structure, giving it strength, rigidity, in order to prevent falling. The fallen bottle crushes the bees, they die.
Place containers with water near the hive. If the height of the taphole allows, then a bar with a groove is inserted inside, the bottle remains outside. The homemade container can be used all year round.
Pros and cons of drinking bowls
A self-made drinking bowl will be of great benefit to bees. This guarantees:
- the presence of a constant source of drinking in and around the hive;
- under the rays of the sun, the water in a plastic container quickly warms up;
- the drinker does not take up space in the hive, does not block the free movement of bees in warm weather;
- simplicity of design, availability allows you to save on consumables for the apiary;
- makes it possible to control the quantity, its quality condition;
- the design is suitable for different types of hives, used in winter roads;
- light weight, easy maintenance.
Along with so many positive aspects, there are disadvantages. They are not significant. This is the fragility of plastic bottles. But this defect is quickly eliminated by simply replacing the container. Leave the old cork and replace the bottle. How it looks is shown in the image.
To warm up the water, add hot water to the container or paint it black.
Important!
Do not use too large bottles so as not to make the whole structure heavier. One 0,5 liter bottle is enough to provide a seven-week supply of water.
Recommendations
Experienced beekeepers advise to be attentive to the process of organizing a watering hole for their wards. Water must be present throughout the year. Do not assume that bees can replenish stocks from nearby bodies of water. In the spring, bees are weak, and they need energy to care for the young. Flying around in search of water takes a lot of energy.
During the production of young animals, a larger supply of water is needed. For example, each family needs:
- 50 gr. on days with favorable weather conditions;
- up to 300 gr. on hot days with high air temperatures.
Lack of drinking forces the worker bee to fly around in search of moisture, forgetting to collect nectar.
Water taken from puddles or stagnant bodies of water carries a risk of contamination. It is a common source of infectious, viral diseases.
Cold water in the drinking bowl is the cause of the death of bees. The insects become numb from its low temperature.
Lack of water affects the brood. With a shortage of most of it, death is threatened.
It is not necessary to have individual drinkers for each family. One barrel on the site, painted dark, can solve the problem in the summer. This is a metal barrel, but the inside is easy to clean.
Salted water is good for bees. Therefore, experienced beekeepers recommend having two drinker options.
It is better to install the open ones after the cleaning flight. Otherwise, they will be stained with feces. This is a dangerous phenomenon that becomes the source of nosematosis.
If the bee does not know the location of a container with water, a saucer with syrup or a small amount of honey should be placed near it. Salt water also attracts bees.
During preventive measures, in the treatment of bees, drugs, vitamin supplements, and trace elements are added to such containers. Do not allow the water to stagnate, acquire an unpleasant odor, sediment or green coating.
