Feeding bees using plastic 1 litre soda bottles

[GustineCA]

There are a number of commercial beekeepers here who use plastic soda bottles to feed colonies through a hole on the top of the hive.

I thought about trying this. I filled empty soda bottles with sugar water and poked four holes in the cap. I used the smallest nail I could find to poke the holes. But when I inverted the bottle, it would not stop leaking. I never had this problem when feeding with glass jars but it seems the plastic bottle won't stop leaking.

Has anyone on this forum ever fed bees this way? What am I doing wrong?

Thanks,

Robert

[randydrivesabus]

try to use smaller holes?

[Mici]

plastic is soft and it doesn't fight back the vacuum good enough, at least 3dCl will pour away before it reaches vacuum that is strong enough.
buckets are made of stronger and thicker plastic, that's the solution.

[Robo]

Plastic is too flexible, stick with glass.   Even if you do get it to stop leaking,  as the temperature fluctuates, the liquid will expand and contract and the plastic will let it be pumped out on to the bees.  If they can't consume it fast enough, they will drown.  I stopped using plastic buckets for this reason.  In the Spring when there was a large temperature swing,  I was loosing hives.   The hole size is not your problem.  I use 1/16" drill bit in my gallon glass jars without issue.

[Jerrymac]

I had a dog water bowl that used bottles. The plastic would just collapse and dump water out.

Robo,
Around these parts the day/night temps are usually 30 degree difference. Even my glass jars dumped out the syrup. I just stopped feeding inside the hives.

[kensfarm]

The only way I've seen is to use a rabbit/gerbal waterer end.. connected to the bottle.  These are the waterers that have a small metal ball w/in a metal tube that stops the flow of the liquid. 

[Robo]

I just stopped feeding inside the hives.

Unfortunately that is not an option here in the North...

[Cindi]

Ken, the rabbit waterer sounds like a viable plan.  But...how the devil do you get it to stay upright?  That gives me a question.  Have a wonderful day, great life.  Cindi

[kensfarm]

Hi Cindy..  that's the reason the 2 I had bought are now just sitting in my storage box.  Maybe w/ a hole in the cover they would work(liter bottle)..  but I've been looking for a square container(gallon size) w/ the same connection.  I found some water dispensers(Walmart) that I thought would work.. but the connection wasn't the same.  W/ the correct container.. the tube would extend down between the frames some..  might just have to melt some plastic to get what I'm looking for. 

[Cindi]

Ken, I have been thinking more of the rabbit waterer for the sugar syrup.  I am not absolutely positive that it would be so great.  More thought needs to be done with it.  I know that the water does not drip (like when used with the rabbits), but that is water.  You must really make sure that the sugar syrup responds the same way to gravity.  Check it out first.  Putting the outlet inbetween the frames and having it drip in the colony could be a disaster.  Meaning, if the apparatus drips/leaks on the bees, it would make them very cold and they would die.  So....check it out deeply, or have you?  Maybe you already know this answer, I am assuming that it hasn't been time tested yet?   Have a wonderful day, great life.  Cindi

[KONASDAD]

Hi Cindy..  that's the reason the 2 I had bought are now just sitting in my storage box.  Maybe w/ a hole in the cover they would work(liter bottle)..  but I've been looking for a square container(gallon size) w/ the same connection.  I found some water dispensers(Walmart) that I thought would work.. but the connection wasn't the same.  W/ the correct container.. the tube would extend down between the frames some..  might just have to melt some plastic to get what I'm looking for. 

Try Petsmart or the like for dog crate water bottle. Some have flat sides w/ the type of ball-flow dispenser type you are describibg. Connects to side of cage w/ springs.

[kensfarm]

Thankyou Konasdad..  I did buy them at PetSmart.. looked at all the different kinds..  I opted for the smaller bottles(price) because I was just going to use the end pieces to connect to a larger container.  My problem is that I use all Med. supers.. so the container needs to conform to the space.

Cindy.. I have tried the orig. bottles for feeding..  they drip some until the pressure equalizes.. just like can/jar feeders.  I did use a pepsi bottle for open feeding..  the girls collapsed the bottle.  Kinda comical watching a ball of bees continously slid off the metal end.. regroup in a ball and slide off again.  Seemed to take them more effort.. then it did them any good.

I currently just fill 5 - 1 gallon buckets flipped over on plates(that's why there's only 3 dinner plates left in the house).. I notch the edge of the buckets every couple inches.  If I fill them the night before or in the morning.. they empty them out by 2pm. 

[Brian D. Bray]

Try using 1 gallon paint cans.  You can buy clean used ones at the hardware store for about $1.99 each.  I then use the nails I use on to put my frames together (1-1 1/4 inch long brads) to punch holes in the lid.  Tap the nail just enough so it breaks through--but still has the four side pyramid point of the nail.  You can put about 3 dozen holes in each lid.  Use them over and over.  Since the lids have to be pounded on and pried off there is very little leakage, only when you 1st tip the can upside down.  Works inside the hive or as a yard feeder.  I have been known to set up several across the orchard from my bee yard (about 100 feet) and let all the hives feed at once.  I can easily refill the cans that way without having to open the hives and I have yet to experience robbing from feeding them that way.  I do have to refill the can every day on warmer days or every couple on cooler days.  The bees treat the feeding station the same the same way they do the fruit trees when they're in blossom.

[kensfarm]

Hey Brian..  I've just been testing different containers & methods through the summer drought.  After a very dry May.. I knew it was going to be a repeat of last year.. so I pulled what honey my orig. hives made.. and decided to feed & expand.  I did 20+ splits.. usually I would feed inside the hive but the robbers were relentless.  Increasing the outside feeding really seemed to help. 

I use 2 gallon tupperware containers for feeding on the inside..  I place 2 -  1/4 inch sticks on each side of the inner cover hole for the container to rest on.. keeps the air flow too.  I put 5 small holes in the center of the lid..  but the ladies also line up around the lid edges too. 

I've also tried 1/2 gallon apple juice containers(free after you drink the juice)..  I cut a small square of cloth that covers the opening.. put the cap on & only give it a half turn.. flip it over and set it on the cap.  Worked good..  the only drawback was balancing it on the lid.. and having to use a funnel to fill the containers. 

[sean]

out here we use plastic bags. Pour the sugar water in (the thicker the better) tie the bag and place it inthe hive. The bees bore the the bags themselves the holes are minute so you dont get alot of seepage