Top feeder problem.

[PastorJ]

I am new to beekeeping and our hive is only a week and half old. Last week I performed my one week check-up. I had purchased a top feeder and the bees were definitely using it all week. In fact the syrup had almost disappeared and there were still bees in the feeder(along with some ants, but bees didn't seem to mind them). Checked the brood chamber, found the queen, she was doing fine. Put the hive back together and filled the top feeder with fresh syrup I'd made earlier that morning.

Later that evening I checked to see if they were feeding, there were several bees stuck in the syrup. I'm not sure how they got through the metal mesh. Some were still alive, but several died in the syrup. I fished them out, all of them. Over the next couple days I noticed the bees had stopped using the feeder. The ants had free run of it and were dying by the hundreds.

I realize if the bees had found a nectar source they may stop feeding, but I think its fishy how they stopped  after My first hive check. Any advice? I used the exact same sugar, recipe, and process making the syrup as I did on the first batch.

Feedback ?

Thanks in advance!

[buzzbee]

PAstor,
could you put your location in your profile entry for better help?
The bees may have already quit on the syrup before you hecked them. that may be why you saw the ants.If they are bringing in pollen and nectar,that is most likely the reason they quit taking syrup. Or perhaps all the comb is filled with syrup and no where else to put it?
If it is the latter,your best to remove the feeder so the queen will have somewhere to lay once the cells are empty.

[PastorJ]

I've definitely seen a lot of pollen coming in,
But after a week only the center 3 frames is built out
With comb. Don't they use the syrup to build wax ? Should
There be more frames built out after a week?

[Finski]

I've definitely seen a lot of pollen coming in,
But after a week only the center 3 frames is built out
With comb. Don't they use the syrup to build wax ? Should
There be more frames built out after a week?

Bees build only so much combs when they need nd they can occupie with bees.
Stop feeding and leave the space fo laying.

How many frames bees cover densily?

Add sugar so that it is 66%. So you may conserve the sugar for later usage.

.

[Shanevrr]

Ive had a couple hundred die in my top feeders.  They are going on the shelf soon, I may look for another

[Finski]

Ive had a couple hundred die in my top feeders.  They are going on the shelf soon, I may look for another

Perhaps the cover is not tight or something is keeping it up.


If the walking surface is too slippy, much bees will be drunked. Coarse with sand paper or with knife the surfaces where bees walk.

[Michael Bush]

Finski covered the most likely cause.  Maybe the cover isn't tight.  Also, maybe it has a notch in the inner cover.  If so you have to push the cover back to block it or remove the inner cover.

[Shanevrr]

no there dead on the bee side not fill up side.  just cleaned them out.  plus there a pain if you check hives. splling and such.  maybe i  got cheap ones

[FRAMEshift]

there a pain if you check hives. splling and such. 

Try adding less syrup at a time if you plan to do frequent hive checks.

[VolunteerK9]

Your flow is going on right now though in Georgia. I would go ahead and quit feeding. No more hive top feeders for me though. Too problematic.

[annette]

If they are the Mann Lake one, you have to duct tape around the bottom of the screen so the bees cannot push the screen out. Other than this, I usually do not have much trouble with the top feeders.

See photo below:



And also the part about the notch in the inner cover is important. Bees can get into the feeder through the notch. Push the telescoping cover back like Michael says.

Another thing I do that helps with the ants, I paint mineral oil all around on the super below the feeder so the ants cannot get through.

Some work involved, but they hold so much syrup which is wonderful.

Hope this all helps

Annette