Making Mud for Mason Bees

There's a reason we call them mason bees! Female mason bees build the walls of their nesting chambers out of mud or other "masonry" products to give each egg a safe place to develop into an adult bee. Learn how to identify if your yard has the proper mud for mason bees and how to add mud if it's missing. Learn more at crownbees.com/...
Shop Mason Bee Mud Mix: crownbees.com/...

[@JoeBanjo88]

love the driveby by the canadian snow geese

[@lauraswofford655]

Will do. Thanks.

[@BBRubyT]

would it be ok to add a little food coloring to the mud to see if they are using it?

[@CrownBees]

Absolutely! That can be a fun experiment. Our owner, Dave, did the same with his grandsons. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooirnYWEd86Xhposi=BF0LV2Y7lnoKCEdv

[@BBRubyT]

I can't tell if my bees used the mud I bought or some other mud.

[@CrownBees]

As long as there were ample amounts of available mud, the bees appreciate it.

[@lauraswofford655]

Thanks for the video. I put my mud mix in a small tuna can (well cleaned) and set it on the ground. Should I instead put it in a hole?

[@CrownBees]

Yes, you should instead put your mason bee mud into a wedge in the ground. The can will either make the mud too wet or too dry. The groundwater in your soil will keep the mud mix at the right moisture level and bees like gathering mud from the sidewall so they can find the clay with the right moisture level.

[@MrKen-longrangegrdhogeliminato]

How do I send you ,or post a picture of a Mason bee's nest she was building on here?

[@CrownBees]

You can email us at [e-mail] and easily send a picture that way!

[@beesrfunny]

you are more than welcome to visit our farm, we'll dig 5 inches and you can take all the clay you want! =)

[@7891234able]

How far from the nest does it need to be.

[@theresadimaggio7241]

What kind ofclay

[@smartypantspreschool8775]

My chickens free range in our yard. Should I be concerned that they may peck/eat them when the bees are gathering mud in the ground?

[@CrownBees]

Hi! Great question. I wouldn't be too concerned. Female bees should fly out of the way if there is a chicken close enough to peck at them while they are gathering mud. If you actively notice that the chickens are picking off your mason bees, you could try fencing off a small area of mud to separate the bees and the chickens.

[@smartypantsathome3123]

@@CrownBees thanks so much

[@karens.8194]

Can I use an old pot with clay mud also add Mason Bee Mud and keep the pot weat? Instead of Making a hole in my backyard?

[@CrownBees]

It can be a struggle to keep pots or bowls filled with mud at the right moisture level. The mud can either be too wet or too dry when it's in a bowl. The groundwater in your soil naturally keeps the mud wet and bees prefer to gather mud from the sidewall of the wedge that you provide for them. The bees will only be gathering mud for 4-6 weeks and you can close it up when they are done. You can also user our Mason Bee Mud Box to keep the mud moist without digging a hole in the ground: crownbees.com/shop/accessories/mud-box

[@clevelandgamingclassic9177]

I’m so lost as to how the bees actually find where u put the mud???

[@771blahblah]

Where should the hole with mud be located?

[@CrownBees]

We recommend placing the mud within 20 to 25 feet of the bee nest.

[@771blahblah]

Thanks!