Feeding lots of food to hives outfitted with top entrances, bottom-board feeders

[TwoHoneys]

I use all 8-frame medium boxes with top entrances, and I've constructed bottom feeders from the bottom boards based on Michael Bush's plans.

The bottom feeders hold just under 1 gallon of syrup, which is fine if the hive is in my own yard and I can refill it often. However, I wonder how to feed those hives that I can't get to every day. (And let me tell you, they are sucking down the food right now. No stores whatsoever until I began feeding this week and they've been gobbling it up.) There's usually some simple solution to these problems, but I can't figure this out.

Because of the top entrances, I can't exactly load a 5 gallon bucket on top of an inner cover and leave it  (because the hives don't have inner covers).

And because of the top entrance, I don't feel comfortable leaving the syrup in a jar or bucket in an empty hive box on top of the frames...it seems as if this begs for robbing, even with the entrance reduced.

I've constructed 2" shims (so I can feed dry sugar in the winter) with a finger-sized hole drilled in one side (so I can close the hive and still allow the bees and condensation to leave the hive).

So, I wonder if I could 1) pour syrup in the bottom feeder and also 2) use the shim to close the hive while I also feed dry sugar on top of newspaper on top of the hive.

Gosh, I HATE it when people leave confusing posts like this one because it takes so much thought (for me) to detangle the question. Many thanks to anyone who attempts it. :)

-Liz

[T Beek]

I had simular issues when I started using top entrances (first, just a drilled hole in the top super, which inevitably had to be plugged at some point). 

Then I turned my "inner covers" into my "top entrances" (w/ a simple notch cut out of inner cover) and these issues all vanished.  I use a vent/feed box above the inner cover and can fill it with about 25 lbs of feed if neccessary. 

I'm afraid I've since joined the "drill no holes" (in supers) group.

thomas

[TwoHoneys]

Then I turned my "inner covers" into my "top entrances" (w/ a simple notch cut out of inner cover) and these issues all vanished.  I use a vent/feed box above the inner cover and can fill it with about 25 lbs of feed if neccessary. 

Do you happen to have any pictures of your vent/feed box, thomas? I can't figure out how this works.

-Liz

[Michael Bush]

I feed the outyards with dry sugar.  I feed my home yard and yards that are on my way to town with the bottom board feeders.

[T Beek]

TwoHoneys-I get asked to post pics all the time so I best get on it.  Guess I'm a true Luddite/techNOpeasent at heart and resist these things, but I'm coming along at my own pace :) I don't even know how to use my wife's camera.

But really its simple;  Inner cover becomes Top Entrance w/ small (2") notch on bottom/front (always placed on bottom/front).  Vent/feed box is just an empty super of any size available (I use mediums for everything) w/ screened holes on all sides and is placed on top of notched inner cover.  These holes are then covered by the 2" insulation I'll be placing as winter approaches.  Hope this is a better explanation.  I'll still attempt posting pics asap.

thomas

[T Beek]

Here's a picture of my basic Lang set up w/ notched inner cover (that moves up as colony grows) and vent/feed box over that.  Hope this turns out, its my first attempt to post w/ a msg.

thomas

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[T Beek]

I just noticed that there are still some noticeable "bear" paw prints on front of the telescoping cover from this past May. 

Reminded me to check the electric fence :)

thomas