Top entry feeding methods

[shakerbeeman]

Sorry, posted in the wrong category before. Is it possible to use a boardman feeder with top entry. I may not need the feeder much longer. I would like to get my 5 frame nuc into an 8 frame medium I have ready. This nuc was loaded with a 3lb. package on 5/14 and hasn't been open yet. Tomorrow I plan to check in and wondered if that might be a good time to make the transfer.

They hardly touched the feeder the last few days. Weather has been rainy and chilly. Each has taken 2 qts. I could put it under the lid for top entry or eliminate it. Suggestions?

[Brian D. Bray]

It is possible to put a boardman feeder(s) inside a super above a top entrance.  To do it use an inner top, place the feeder(s) on it close to the hole for the one way exit and cover with an out top.  In using the top entrance it is best to cut a  notch in the front of the inner top so that the bees continue to use the same entrance location.

Understand that it may be difficult to entice the bees up into the area with the feeder(s).  The bees sometimes will not pass the slot in the inner top to get the syrup.  I would guess because the inner top acts as the floor and the odor of the syrup does sink down into the hive as well aas it might.

[doak]

My bees haven't been trained to stay out of the top. Every time I open one that has an inner cover there are at least 100 maybe 200 bees inbetween the outer and inner covers.
For a boardman feeder you can take the inner cover off and add an empty super/deep box and put the outer cover back on.
I did this once when I had a problem with robbing. If they have plenty room down below they will not start to build comb it the empty.
I haven't used a boardman in awhile. I use the one that fits in where the frames fit. Haven't had any prob's with it.
  "Don't" use the one that is full open . I modified two I had. Cut two boards the right length with a taper at the inside end.  I used a crickit container and cut the wire to fit down inside, fold the edges over&under each other, makes a funnel like, tack to the wood at top. Use drywall, "big head" nails to fasten the wood to the plastic.
Loose maybe a doz bees from drowning.
doak

[Michael Bush]

I've done frame feeders, Miller feeders (with a shim on each side to make an entrance), inner covers like these:
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/OverwinteringNucs3.jpg

With jars on them like this:
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/OverwinteringNucs1.jpg

All of them work.

But my favorite is a bottom board feeder:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm