What is the better way to feed the bees, bottom or top and why.
Top, because feeding at the bottom can facilitate robbing by. Bees from other hives, since it is close to the entrance and the resident bees are unable to effectively defend against robbers.
We all buy one of those entrance feeders when we are starting out, then learn the above. Just one of the things they sell a lot of that wind up on a shelf.
There are various ways of feeding at the top. What you use depends on a lot of factors. Read through the forum and you'll find the answers to most of your questions. I particularly recommend reading Michael Bush's website.
Welcome to the forum. You really should show your location in your profile. Most answers to your questions depend a great deal on your location.
I have tried front feeders (never again), in-hive feeders (sort of OK but not my favorite) and top feeders. I have used top feeders for many years and they are all I use anymore. The 10-Frame Hive Top Feeder w/Floats from Brushy Mountain (#688) are my favorite (not say others are not good but this is what I like best.) With any in-hive or top feeder, I suggest filling it with warm water and set on a piece of news paper in order to check for leaks (even the best can have a bad one slip through). It is better to discover a leaky feeder on newspaper then have it leak down on to your bees.
At the end of any feeding period (before storage) clean the feeder good so your bees will not be harmed the next time you use the feeder. -Mike
I use a glass jar with a hole cut out in the inner cover sized to match the lid. I discourage bottom front entrance feeders. Much robbing will occur and if the robbers gets crazy enough they will off your queen. I live in central Alabama it does get cold here so that's a variable with the method I described.
I have tried the mason jar method and they leak out into the hive. I have 3 or 4 very small holes. Any one have this problem
Quote from: davers on March 28, 2016, 11:14:49 AM
I have tried the mason jar method and they leak out into the hive. I have 3 or 4 very small holes. Any one have this problem
Assuming the seal between jar and lid is good, the most common reason for leakage is as a result of thermal expansion and contraction.
The cure is twofold - firstly, install the inverted jar within an insulated brood box (or similar) to keep the temperature inside the jar as constant as possible.
Secondly, only use an inverted jar when the bees will be enthusiastic about feeding from it. There's little point in having a feeder in position during a nectar flow, for example, as they'll just ignore it.
You might also consider feeding with smaller jars. I prefer to use a size of jar which will - when filled during the evening - be completely emptied by the following morning, so as to minimise any robbing stimulus. Unfortunately, adopting this strategy does involve more work.
LJ
Davors, I've never had this problem. LJ had some good points about the jar. About the only thing I'd add would be to make sure the lid is on tight and know that they'll leak when you first turn them over until the suction is created.
Quote from: davers on March 28, 2016, 11:14:49 AM
I have tried the mason jar method and they leak out into the hive. I have 3 or 4 very small holes. Any one have this problem
Never had this problem but have heard of many who have when they use the 2 piece mason lids. I use 1 piece honey lids & drill my own holes. Works great.
Almost forgot - there is one thing I discovered about inverted jars, many moons ago.
With inverted feeder jars, the hole size itself doesn't really matter ... within reason. 2 or 3 holes, 2mm diameter or less are ideal.
What DOES matter is the area of lid immediately around the hole. To demonstrate what I'm talking about - place a drop of water on something very flat, like a CD. Now - invert the CD smartly, so that the drop is now on the underside. It should hang there suspended, held in place by surface tension.
Now - if you were to place a similar sized drop of water on something with a point - a sewing needle, for example - when held vertically, the drop of water will run down the needle, and promptly fall off the end.
The reason the drop of water falls off the needle, and not off the CD, is the larger surface area which supports that drop of water.
So - for anyone who makes inverted jar feeders by punching holes in the lid - always punch the holes INWARDS, so that any sharp edges are inside the jar. You want the area surrounding the hole on the outside to be as flat as possible, in order to support the drop of syrup which stops air from entering the jar, and thus preventing any further syrup from exiting the jar. (Until the bees suck it away, of course ... ) Any sharp points around the holes will only encourage dripping.
LJ
There are a lot of factors such as how warm the weather is (or how cold) where the entrance is etc. It's not a simple matter of one being better.