of the two which do you prefer and why when installing packages?
thanks,
T.J.
I'm not a big fan of the few division board feeders I have purchased. The product I bought was dimensionally unstable and bowed like a row boat. This is probably not always the case. A couple more things I don't like: division feeders take up hive room and drown bees. That said, I haven't tried the offerings from everybody, and maybe somebody does make a good division feeder.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#frame (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#frame)
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#miller (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#miller)
Most of the time I use this:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#BottomBoardFeeder (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#BottomBoardFeeder)
BlueBee & Mr. Bush,
thanks for the help & advice on this and my other topic about frames & foundation.i really appreciate it.
after reading some on Mr. Bush's' site i may just try baggie feeding.the only reason i want to feed is to help build up my packages.i hope they can build up and i can leave the stores with them.i dont care if i get any honey the first year or maybe even the first few years as i want to increase the number of colonies first.
thanks again,
T.J.
I have used them all. I have only used division board feeders the last several years. Easy to use. Easy to fill. No buckets of empty baggies to keep up with. I had a problem with sugar ants getting into the top feeders. Also the cost of them with growing numbers of hives. Division board feeders were much cheaper.
AllenF,
thanks for the info.i appreciate it.
i guess the only way to really know is to do like you and try them all.
i have also found that there are not that many medium division board feeders to choose from.i found one in the Kelly's catalog with a wire insert that takes the place of two frames.i may order a couple of them and try them out.
if i do that i will basically be starting the packages out in a 6 frame medium nuc.wonder how that would work?
thanks again,
T.J.
I use division board feeders on my week hives and jars on the top of my strong ones.
Quote from: T.J. on January 30, 2012, 10:16:52 PM
of the two which do you prefer and why when installing packages?
thanks,
T.J.
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/feeder-compare/ (http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/feeder-compare/)
My prefer is the inverted jar provides access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of temperature. The bees can cluster right up to the bottom of the feeder and continue to feed without breaking cluster.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
I use hive top feeders - easy to refill without opening up the hive, fewer spills, hold fairly large amounts. The wooden ones tend to mildew.
I like the inverted bucket feeders even better (hold even more, easier to clean) but I use horizontal hives with migratory tops - no inner cover to rest them on!
The biggest commercial keeper in my area swears by division board feeders, and I've seen him leave them filled next to a cluster over winter. They tend to drown a lot of bees initially, but eventually the corpses form a raft. Looks like they work fine but I have too many hives scattered across the county to want to make that many refilling trips.
thanks for all the help.i appreciate it.
the guy i am getting some of my packages from has talked about using buckets.i just wasn't sure how that worked.i guess i need to talk to him some more & see just how exactly they work....what size,etc.
thanks again,
T.J.
edit to add:Jim134 - thanks for the link.good info there.