Top Feeder Question

jeepaddict4life · May 26, 2009, 01:51:56 PM

I am going to hive my first package of bees this afternoon. Before I do, however, I have a question regarding the order of stacking for the feeder, inner cover, and outer cover. Where do I put the inner cover, below the feeder, on top of the feeder, or not on at all? The feeder is from Rossman, a 2-chamber with center screened-in feeding 'trough.' Any help would be greatly appreciated! :)

danno · May 26, 2009, 04:43:02 PM

you dont need a inner cover with a top feeder

mherndon · May 26, 2009, 05:02:19 PM

Make sure the wire screen fits tight against the bottom, angle up and vertical. I have three of these feeders and one has the screen slightly miss cut. A few bees have drown. The other two feeders, I have no problem. I do use an inner cover and put cinnamon powder on top of it to deter the ants. Doesn't bother the bees. I do have a screen over the inner cover vent to keep bees from getting in that way.

Mark

jeepaddict4life · May 26, 2009, 10:12:41 PM

Thanks for the tips! I was wondering how, if I used an inner cover over the feeder, I'd keep the bees out...I might try the cinnamon and a screen if ants become a problem. Thanks again! :-D

danno · May 27, 2009, 09:05:57 AM

If you use the inner cover with a notch (top entrance) cut in it they will find if in numbers and drown. I dont use one and also I added a 1/2" strip of soft foam (sill sealer) stapled around the top of the feeder to give me a tight fit.

Pond Creek Farm · May 27, 2009, 10:32:16 PM

I have had great trouble with drowning bees with my Mann Lake top feeders. I ran a bead of silicon caulk along the screen where it meets the pan. No more drown bees. It holds a lot of syrup, and I can go for a couple of weeks or more without checking. Rather convenient.

annette · May 27, 2009, 10:36:10 PM

Yes the Mann Lake Feeder needs to be revised. I use duct tape along the bottom where the screen meets the pan due to having many bees drown when I first used it. Now it works like a charm. I like your idea about the silicon, but how do you remove the screen to clean the feeder???

Pond Creek Farm · May 27, 2009, 11:44:30 PM

Honestly, I have not yet encountered that problem. I suspect I will, however, when I take the feeders off the nucs we started this year this spring. I think that it should be able to clean it with a hose. The silicon should stand up to the water and allow me to clean out the inside of the feeder basin. I will scrape out any wax (which my bees seem to like to build in the entrance) with a knife.

annette · May 27, 2009, 11:48:54 PM

Sounds good. I tend to get a bit fanatical about cleaning things, so I always remove that screen,but it probably is not really necessary.

Tell me the name or type of silicon you use please? Would have to be something non toxic when it gets hot in the feeder.