Can the bees reach the feed if the jar is sitting on #8 hardware screen? I built an ob hive and need to cover the feeding jar hole on the top. The jar is mayonnaise type with nail holes poked in the lid and would set directly on the wire. I'll try to get a couple of pics together to post.
Thanks,
Bobb
Yes, they can even reach a canning jar lid/ring (which is recessed) thru #8
Cool! Thanks alot.
Quote from: Robo on February 28, 2009, 07:14:31 PM
Yes, they can even reach a canning jar lid/ring (which is recessed) thru #8
Does it matter if the holes are put inward or outward or can they be drilled. Thanks
I can't speak for outward as I have never tried it. I would think inward is worse case and it is OK.
>Can the bees reach the feed if the jar is sitting on #8 hardware screen?
Yes. That's how I always do it on my regular hives. I put the screen on so I can refill jars without even putting a veil on.
Thanks everyone.
Sorry to cut in here with a question.
Can they reach the feed thru the screen if its a 1gal. paint can
Thanks for any help
Quote from: ADAME2M on March 10, 2009, 12:43:47 PM
Sorry to cut in here with a question.
Can they reach the feed thru the screen if its a 1gal. paint can
Thanks for any help
yes, the distance isn't any different than that of a jar lid on a glass jar. don't drill the holes, punch them so there's a hanging chad. Use a 4d nail and tap just enough to puncture a very small hole while leaving the pyramid shape of the nail point imprinted in the lid. Drill holes will create leakage.
So in a jar with a 4" lid what size hole would you provide and how many would be ok
Mick
Mick,
You can use a small nail or 1/16" drill. Drilling makes cleaning mold and propolis easier, you don't have to deal with the jagged edges of a punched hole. There is m no majic to the number of holes, just space them evenly, I would say 10 -15 holes would be good.
rob..
So you would use this upside down on a cover board with a hole in it or queen excluder or resting directly on the frames and the bees approach from underneath?
Mick
Slickmick, yes, upside down. However the point of the hardware cloth is to keep the bees in the hive when you remove it to exchange or refill. Setting over the frames or excluder won't do that. Mine set over a hole in the outer cover. I also made some outer covers with holes the size of the jar lids and routed out an area on the inside of the cover to staple the hardware cloth to so it is flush with the lid when the jar is in there. I just stick a mayonnaise jar lid with no holes in it in the hole when not feeding (or leave the empty jar in it).
Good info Rast. Thanks heaps. I have a couple of hives that are from swarms that I took late in the season and I think that I will have to feed them this winter. Fortunately it never gets below 45 here (never had a frost :-D) but the winter blossom can be quite variable.
Quote from: SlickMick on April 09, 2009, 04:24:37 AM
So in a jar with a 4" lid what size hole would you provide and how many would be ok
Mick
Regular mason jar lids are 70mm and wide mouth jar lids are 83mm for hole size. I use an adjustable hole circle cutting bit. Then you can adjust with a rasp if too tight.