Beehives sited next to ponies

[Catloveisreal]

Is it unreasonable to site beehives about 2m from pony fence? Ponies are kept at home but bees seem to be everywhere even in the stables when mucking out. Hives have been there about a week. Aibu?

I can't see there bee-ing a problem.

I can't see why either of you should have priority.

Both keeping luxury unnecessary animals.

Bees are looking for flowers, they won't hurt your pony, our neighbours have bees a similar distance from our garden fence, no issues at all.

We have had the same problem with a beehive right against the fence - if you check the beekeepers association guidelines they say to keep them away from livestock. Unfortunately once hive is active It’s unwise to move them but need to co exist without anyone getting hurt so we were advised to use Tea tree shampoo and fly repellent As bees not keen on it- so far so good.. oh and I think we can ignore the poster above after all bees are very necessary to the ecosystem and I love honey!

Anecdotal evidence is that the smell of horses can make some bees behave aggressively; www.bedsbka.org.uk/membership/good-practice/siting-an-out-apiary/
Why not contact your local beekeepers association for advice if you feel uncomfortable speaking to your neighbours?

Sorry someone else posted - I meant the one about bees and horses being unnecessary!

Bees are far from unnecessary. They are important pollinators and play a huge role in food production. Without them crops would be less productive.

In California, they had a massive drop in the almond crop, because bees and bee larvae were dying due to excessive us of pesticide. There was huge concern, because of the economic impact and the possible implication for other crops and for wildlife.

I think it's important to site hives sensibly though and I certainly wouldn't put them next to a pony field.

I also have doubts about the wisdom keeping bees in urban areas. My DSS's neighbour keeps bees in the middle of Brighton. When they're swarming, you daren't set foot outside the house, it's like trying to walk through a dense cloud, except it's bees. They can't have barbecues because the smoke makes the bees swarm.

My parents keep bees and ponies (not side by side - the hives are about 20m from the field). The bees are really peaceful. You can get right up to the hives and they aren’t bothered (they only start to care when you open the hives up).

If you find they’re causing a problem you could speak to the hive owner. It’s difficult though, because you can’t move an active hive - the bees will list return to where the hive was before. You will probably find though that it isn’t an issue and they coexist peacefully.

‘Unnecessary animals’? Bees pollinate our crops and gardens and their numbers are collapsing. Bee keeping is essential for our ecosystem. Why do people make such idiotic statements about things they know noting about.

I keep bees in a field 5m from my sheep shelter - they are no problem. Find out who owns the hive and have a chat.

We have bees and horses together, they all seem to get along fine. I love listening to bees.

Ponies are not luxury animals, much cheaper than children. Bees make honey, the stuff people eat

We've kept both with no issues. We put the hives at the bottom of the fields and fenced them off with electric tape to stop the ponies using them as scratching posts but to be honest both species totally ignored each other.

I was shocked to see bees described as an “unnecessary animal”, but apparently it’s not quite so clear as I’d imagined.

Just one of the articles that popped up when I googled bee keeping and the environment:
theconversation.com/amp/keeping-honeybees-doesnt-save-bees-or-the-environment-102931

(Sorry, I know it’s missing the point of the thread a bit!)

The bees belong to my husband who lives part time here and part time with his girlfriend of 5 years.

SuperFurryDoggy

Absolutely- beekeeping is mostly quite harmul to wild bee populations.

fuckinghellthisshit do some research. Beekeeping does not enhance the ecosystem.
Managed hives put a lot of pressure on wild bees in terms of competition for food and will decrease wild bee populations.

There is a case for keeping bees in an agricultural setting- orchards for instance to increase crops, but even then bees will need to forage for food in the wild outside of crop flowering periods.

If people want to support bees then grow plants that will feed wild bees.
Don't keep bees!

Your husband splits his time between your house and his girlfriend's....???
I never knew that about bee keeping putting pressure on the wild bee population, very interesting. I adore bees in my garden and select flowers and shrubs based entirely on how likely they are to attract bees. I find them hypnotic and soothing....

@speakout

I can't see why either of you should have priority.

Both keeping luxury unnecessary animals.

Do you feel better for that? 🙄

The bees belong to my husband who lives part time here and part time with his girlfriend of 5 years.

I’m not sure the bees are your biggest problem...

Backs away slowly

Ok.

Send bees to live with husband and girlfriend. Divorce husband. Problems solved.

Potential Unpopular opinion alert!In which case the bees are being weaponised like some parents use children to Get back at their partner- it’s like planting leylandi hedge along a troublesome neighbour boundary

I was actually considering getting a bee hive - thinking I’d be doing something good. Interesting to find out that it’s not helpful to the local bees at all.