I have a frame feeder that was got off the internet. I filled it one-quarter full with 1:1 sugar-water and when I checked it a week later it did not seem to be diminished in quantity and it had four dead bees in it.
Dud feeder??? What should I do????
If the bees wanted the syrup they would have gotten it. Four dead bees is nothing. I've seen frame feeders filled with drowned bees.
Did you get the cap and ladder with the feeder? You need one or you will have lots of dead bees. If you dont have one at least use a float. I use a thin piece of wood about an inch less than the length of the feeder and about half the width. The float will save lots of bees. The ladder system works better.
A inverted jar really is the best way to go, honest to the bee god. Takes less time to change, no dead bees, outside air temp is not a problem, on and on.
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i have believed that frame feeder shoulf be filled with dry sugar.
You may poiur syrup directly into comb cells.
>i have believed that frame feeder shoulf be filled with dry sugar.
Done that:
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SugarFeedingFrame.jpg (http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SugarFeedingFrame.jpg)
But you can even skip the feeder:
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SugarFeedingSide.jpg (http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SugarFeedingSide.jpg)
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#drysugar (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#drysugar)
For years my friend Bob has put dry sugar on newspaper directly on top of frames 1-3 and 8-10 for winter feeding. He tried sugar cubes also without the newspaper but found chunks of sugar had fallen through to the screened bottom board and the bees would not go down to get it. -Mike
With a SBB you definitely need to make the sugar clump up by spraying some water on it.
http://bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#drysugar (http://bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#drysugar)
Quote from: mikecva on August 12, 2011, 04:05:31 PM
For years my friend Bob has put dry sugar on newspaper directly on top of frames 1-3 and 8-10 for winter feeding.
What kind of winter?
Bees only way to store food is capping honey for winter and dry seasons . That newspaper trick I do not undertand not at all.
Lets look my climate, which do not suit nowhere in Great America. (Except in Michigan level, Canada and in Alaska. )
I had in April a whole load brood in my 20 hives. Then it came frosty week. Snow covered soil one week. All larvae were destroyed in all hives. It meant that 2 weeks brood were dead.
I have noticed too that in Spring bees do not forage drinking water in shadow. They need sun to suck water from soil dirty. They cannot suck water from snow.
It is important in Autumn too that feeding do not start brooding again. Those bees, which feed larvae will die during autumn and winter. Bees have a narrow limit here to get rid off poo before winter clustering. Quickist way to feed bees for winter is to give 66% syrup.
A slow or continuous feeding keep on brooding. You may stimulate brooding in late summer with that.
It is lethal thing in my climate to keep on slow brooding in autumn.
All hives which rear brood in autumn will be dead in December. Hives which are in a deep winter sleep, are in best condition in spring when bees start their acticity.
Main problem seems to be that in USA and in Canada you try to play with same rules from jungle to tundra. It needs experience to avoid that.
And that feeding a whole year aroundtoo like aquarium. It is nice but lethal to bees.
It means contiunous winter rest disturbing. it is in Britain the same.
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