Feeders

[bhfury]

I have some hives that are a box and a half. The half box (medium) is on the top with the bottom (brood chamber) on the bottom. The problem is that I want to feed, but the in hive feeder is in the bottom box. My question is...can I switch (reverse) the boxes so the box with in hive feeder is top box. If it makes a difference, I'm in Bakersfield California where the average temperature this time of the year is 56(high) and 38(low). OR is it too cold and can break the brood cluster.

[ronwhite3030]

If it was me I would either build or buy a hive top feeder and not mess with the position of the hives , or buy a shallow division board feeder or feed dry sugar by laying down a sheet of news paper on the top hive and spreading sugar on it or last resort being that it doesn't freeze really here put on a top-feeder only on warm days and take off on cold days but to me that is last resort.

my 2 cents

[rdy-b]

  just crack the boxes and feed in the lower brood chamber-whats in the top box--bees or honey
  or you could but another feeder for the medium and do it that way -bees need the feed above them
so dont reverse-or you will have brood in the top-or is the top already full of brood-and thats why you need
to feed- 8-) RDY-B

[wd]

what did you decide to do? I'd crack them open as mentioned...