what feeder would u use:see pictures

adamant · July 10, 2011, 04:41:23 PM

this no. 1.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

or this no. 2.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

no. 1. you loose 2 frames, and u have to smoke the hive to check and fill the feeder.. its cheep also.

no. 2. you don't loose any frames, don't have to smoke the hive. holds more food, more time between inspections because of the capacity.. more money for the unit..

sc-bee · July 10, 2011, 05:08:28 PM

None of the above. Outside feeder ---- Jar with small nails holes in top of lid, inserted into cover on top. You can see the feed amount, you do not enter hive, and no robbing issue if you do not spill feed when placing on top of hive.

Cheap and easy to make ---- however some do not like handling jars of feed.

The best feed of all I try and leave two shallows of honey on my established hives.

Kathyp · July 10, 2011, 07:54:22 PM

save yourself the money and do the jars. the only downside to them is that you should cover them with an empty box, but since you will need the boxes eventually anyway, they are a better investment than feeders.

large canning jars, costco pickle or similar, etc. if your inner cover sags with the weight of the jars, slip a couple of sticks under the lid on either side of the hole to give some support between the top of the frames and the inner cover.

Jim134 · July 10, 2011, 08:42:01 PM

None of the above.

http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/feeder-compare/

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Shanevrr · July 10, 2011, 09:22:31 PM

top hive feeders were a pain for me, spilling, drowned bees, hard to handle for inspections, will try jar next go around

rbinhood · July 10, 2011, 09:37:57 PM

None of the above....candyboard or dry sugar on the intercover.

RangerBrad · July 10, 2011, 09:52:45 PM

1 galon pails are what I started with and see no reason to change. Brad

AllenF · July 10, 2011, 10:19:16 PM

I use division board feeders now. Cost thing I guess. I have some top feeders and did not use them this year.

stella · July 10, 2011, 10:27:15 PM

Neither.
I used a gallon plastic chicken waterer , taped screening over the hole, filled the well with stones to prevent drowning and placed it in an empty deep on top of the inner hive cover . I crumpled newspaper around the water to prevent comb building. Put the outer cover on top.
I learned about it here and it worked great!

AliciaH · July 11, 2011, 12:38:14 PM

Every feeder has a purpose. If you only have a few hives you can use all of the above, I think. Top feeders work well if you're going on vacation and someone else needs to feed for you.

But any time you have syrup the bees can't defend, then you might have problems with ants. In that case baggie feeding works well, you just need a spacer bar, which is pretty easy to build.

If you don't have ants, you should just use what's easiest for you. The "jar in a box" method is pretty darned easy for the least amount of expense. And it doesn't promote robbing the way front feeders do.

Francus · July 11, 2011, 01:09:14 PM

I have been happy with the hive top feeder. I used a screened top, so pop the outer cover look, and pour through the screen (pick a spot without bees). Plus fewer trips.

caticind · July 11, 2011, 07:22:01 PM

I use a hive top feeder - fewer drownings and great for those times of year when the girls can take gallons in just a few days. Generally I don't feed unless they have no stores and need A LOT of syrup in a hurry, so the smaller jars just didn't make sense for me. Ants are not a big issue here.

If you don't like hive top, then jars, baggies, fondant, etc will all do fine. But I wouldn't recommend division board (drowning) or entrance (robbing) feeders.