Wondering if I should change my feeding method?

[Flygirl]

Hi All ~

Here's my dilemma ~ one hive is doing well & eating through the syrup in the top feeder.  The other hive (the calmer one) isn't touching the syrup.  They both started out with frames of honey from last year so initially I thought the calmer hive was just slower & had enough food.  But they've never touched the syrup & it's been on the hive since April 16th'ish.  They have been bringing in pollen, too.

Do I need to remove the syrup & "refresh" it ~ does it go bad?  Should I switch to the baggie or jar style feeder?  Should I add "honey be healthy" to entice them?

They seem healthy & happy just not as vigorous or hungry as the other hive.  Maybe I shouldn't be comparing them & just let them bee :) 

Ideas & suggestions are welcome ~  Thanks!  Flygirl

[Moonshae]

Syrup will go bad in just a few days of warm weather if you didn't put HBH or bleach in it. Sounds like it's time for a refresher. HBH works great as a preservative, and IMHO, it's safer than bleach for the bees. I use it in my watering station at half strength to keep the water from getting nasty, too.

[bassman1977]

Should I switch to the baggie or jar style feeder?

I never used the baggie method and never will.  With my luck it will become a disaster.  I hate the jar feeder unless you devise a method to make it an internal feeder (put it on the inner cover then put another super around it, then the outer cover).  I find that this feeder triggers a lot of robbing and in turn fighting.  Also, they need refilled quickly.  I really like the hive top feeder except for when they build burr comb in between the two tanks.

[Kathyp]

what does the inside of your hive look like?  if they are finding stuff to bring in, they may not want/need your syrup.

[DaveKow]

Rookie opinion.  After trying the inverted bucket and having it leak on the bees, I went with the poultry feeder.(Thanks to Buzzbee and his neighbor that made a youtube video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-GaOQvavnw

No way to leak on the bees.  Then I placed a towel around the trough so the bees don't drown.(Thanks to someone on this forum for that idea).  Just filled feeders today and all looks well with this method.  They took whatever 5#sugar to 5 pints of water make, in about a week.  I am using honey bee healthy.  Being a rookie I don't know if it does what is claims, but it so makes the syrup smell wonderful.  It really seems to keep the syrup fresh.

Dave

[Flygirl]

Thanks everyone ~  I have hbh & I'm going to mix it up with a new batch of syrup.  I need to change out the syrup.  Maybe I'll try the baggie on one hive & leave the top feeder on the other.

I think KathyP asked about the inside of the hives.  The one taking the syrup is already building into a second brood box.  The calmer hive has just filled out 8-9 frames in the first brood box & I added a second box on Sunday.  The calmer hive isn't eating the syrup but seems fine.  The other hive is busy, hungry, hungry.  I was comparing them but I guess they are different....

thanks!  FG