hive top or division board feeders

[T.J.]

of the two which do you prefer and why when installing packages?
thanks,
T.J.

[BlueBee]

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.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#frame
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#miller

Most of the time I use this:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#BottomBoardFeeder

[T.J.]

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.

[AllenF]

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.     

[T.J.]

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.

[ronwhite3030]

I use division board feeders on my week hives and jars on the top of my strong ones.

[Jim134]

of the two which do you prefer and why when installing packages?
thanks,
T.J.

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 :)

[caticind]

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.

[T.J.]

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.