hive top feeder

pembroke · July 07, 2012, 12:05:56 PM

I seem to be having a lot of dead bees in the syrup area. How can they get in and not get back out? Wondering if screen over top of feeder will stop this from happening? I put feeder on top of hive body and then inner cover and outer cover. What's your experience using this type of feeder? pembroke

RHBee · July 07, 2012, 12:10:28 PM

There are several types of hive top feeders. To help I would like some more information like who you bought it from or maybe a picture.

beehappy1950 · July 07, 2012, 04:58:27 PM

If your inner cover has a notch cut in it then leave it off and just put top cover back on so bees cant get in to the top of the feeder.

pembroke · July 07, 2012, 09:06:17 PM

the type of feeder can bee seen in the Kelleys Bee catalog or web site. It seems that leaving the inner cover off would be worse as the top cover has enough room around to allow bees to enter from the top. I use the hard plastic outer cover also from Kelleys. Pembroke

beehappy1950 · July 07, 2012, 09:48:49 PM

My top covers are homemade so there wouldnt be any bees coming in from the top. I dont buy but frames and queen excluders. Harold

beehappy1950 · July 07, 2012, 11:00:47 PM

If you are using the white one, I dont have a clue how it would keep bees out and from drowning. If the black one then thats what I use. If your top lets in the bees then cut a piece of plywood the size of your hive body and lay it on top. Lay your inner cover and cover down on the ground till you are done feeding. Looks like Kelleys is pretty expensive. Mann Lake has the black ones for 15.00 I believe. Harold

saperica · July 08, 2012, 04:02:39 AM

I use past few years a Miller type feeder and i left that system. now i use or plastic bag for freezing the food. (6liter) and pour syrup and welding and put over the frames whit just a few needle pouch. second that i use is my favorite, bucket of 1 liter plastic whit plastic lid that ii perforate whit needle. easy and clean too handle and add a new portion food.

RHBee · July 08, 2012, 05:39:54 AM

Thanks for the pics. If you are using the type innercover that has an upper escape then bees are gaining access to the syrup area by the back door. The innercovers I use have an oval opening on the top and a notch cut at the rear that is used as an alternative entrance. I found that stacking feeder innercover then top allowed bees to drown. Bees aren't good swimmers. Stacking like that also gave extra room for burr comb.
Solution -- Stack hive, innercover, feeder then top. I also found that I lost quite a few bees in the drinking area. My solution was to cut 5/16" wooden dowels to the length of the drinking areas.
Then dipped them in melted bees wax and placed them behind the screen inside the drinking area. You have to make sure the dowels are free to rise and fall with the syrup level. Hope this helps

pembroke · July 10, 2012, 06:29:00 PM

thanks to all

Finski · July 11, 2012, 11:35:05 AM

Quote from: pembroke on July 07, 2012, 12:05:56 PM
I seem to be having a lot of dead bees in the syrup area. How can they get in and not get back out?

How we could know if you do not see what is wrong?

My quess: There are some tiny nipple there which keeps the cover too high.