Bees not taking open feeder syrup

[trace.3820]

Hello we are in a dearth in southwestern Ohio, and I though I?d try my hand at open feeding.

I have an inverted 5 gallon bucket as most do with holes drilled filled with 1:1 syrup. I only have 2 acres so I?m somewhat limited on where I can put it, and currently it?s about 75 feet behind the hive.

Not one bee has touched it in 3 days. Is it too close to the hive maybe?

Trace


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[Ben Framed]

Hello we are in a dearth in southwestern Ohio, and I though I?d try my hand at open feeding.

I have an inverted 5 gallon bucket as most do with holes drilled filled with 1:1 syrup. I only have 2 acres so I?m somewhat limited on where I can put it, and currently it?s about 75 feet behind the hive.

Not one bee has touched it in 3 days. Is it too close to the hive maybe?

Trace


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Trace, I have not open fed syrup but I have open fed pollen sub. My experience is they will use it if they need it. Otherwise they will not.. I would assume the same goes for syrup.. At seventy five feet they should easily find it. I am of the understanding feet from the hive is recommended for the purpose of avoiding a robbing situation..

[The15thMember]

Is it possible that since it's behind the hives they are just flying the wrong way, and having trouble finding it?  I've put stickies out for cleaning at roughly that distance and they usually have no trouble finding them, but for me they are right in the flight path. 

Also mods, maybe move this thread to General Beekeeping? 

[AR Beekeeper]

Open a hive and take the inner cover to the feeder location and shake the bees onto the syrup at the feeder.  If there are few bees on the inner cover remove a side frame with many bees and shake them.  Be careful not to get the queen.  The age of the bees you move should be the older foragers or older house bees.

What you want is for the shaken bees to detect the syrup and return to the hive to give the other bees the location.