Noob question on feeding.

[Mklangelo]

I'm going to use an inverted one gallon paint can for feeding the newly installed package.  I have two nail holes in the lid (same nail used to build hive boxes)  I put the syrup in and turned it upside down.  Nothing drips out which I suppose is good.  With just the slightest pressure anywhere on the can, syrup will drip out.  Will the bees licking at those holes be enough to get the syrup out?  The ladies are gonna need some vittles when they get here next week...



Thanks!

[bluegrass]

You don't want anything to drip out, but you do want to add about 50 more holes. The bees will suck the syrup out of the holes and you want enough holes to feed alot of bees.

[Mklangelo]

Thanks Bluegrass

[Brian D. Bray]

I use 1" frame nails to punch a holes in the lid of a paint can.  25-30 of them.  With only 2 holes, only 2 bees can draw syrup from the bucket at a time.  The more holes the more bees can draw syrup at the same time.  Using a small nail will usually make a small hole, the larger the hole the more apt it is to leak. A slight pressure on the side of the can will cause a little syrup to drip--that is normal.  As long as it doesn't drip when there's no pressure, you're okay.

[papabear]

I've also found that the bucket has to be level or it will continue to leak out :-D