Spring Feeding

[daniel]

 This is the first year I have had Bees make it through the winter. I was told to feed them some sugar syrup and did. They are doing well. I have noticed some syrup on the bottm board. There does not seem to be a lot of it but enough so you notice it. I'm using two gallon pail feeders. I used them last fall and noticed the same thing at the end of the feeding. Is this normal?   Thanks  Dan

[ChickenWing]

It sounds like the pails are leaking, which they are prone to do.   Try filling them with warm syrup.  As it cools, it will create a bit of a vaccum in the pail and help to keep the syrup in the pail.  Also, be sure you are inverting the pails outside from the hive rather than over the hive, so anything that comes out in that first moment of being tipped over goes outside the hive.  Also, the plastic pails will flex when the weather cools down at night, and can cause syrup leakage.  Glass jars will not do this.  You want to avoid  large amounts of leaking onto the bees, and syrup on the bottom board may become a target for robbers.     

If all else fails, try a different type of feeder.   Hive top feeders will not leak.   :-D

I've used the pails before, but switched to the Hive tops.  It is much easier to fill them up.  I haven't even seen the pails for sale in a long time.  Who sells them? 

[daniel]

Thanks.......... The Beekeeper that was helping with info had said he did not like the hive top because of the loss of bees in the syrup. I do invert out side of the hive first. As I said this is really my second full year with bees so any info is a big help. The one thing I have found is that all Beekeepers do things different and most all of them work.  Thanks Dan

[daniel]

Lapps Bee Supply at Reeseville Wi. sells them. They are still common in this area.  Dan

[Mklangelo]

I was thinking of using some new, one gallon paint cans with two holes poked in the lid and inverted over the Inner Cover and surrounded by an empty deep box for feeding newly installed packages. 

Does anyone do it this way?


thanks!

[Kathyp]

i like the bucket feeders because it's so wet here i don't want more wet sitting inside the hive.  that may not be an issue for you.  i also like the fact that i can just grab them off without having to get into the hive.

if they leak a bit, it's no big deal.  the fluid just goes right through.  if you have a SBB, it goes to the ground.

[zoey]

MKLANGELO ,,,, I was told to use food grade pails for any thing that I fed the girls  ( as you dont want to kill them off )  and for any honey robbed ,,,    You can get food grade from a bakery or delie   I get all mine from a feistivel foods    Drill 1/16 holes  make sure the lids seal good   
  the kid
  opps my grand daughter is loged in and dont know how to change this post to mine ,,,,,,,,,  oh well

[Cindi]

I have inner frame feeders.  I was thinking about switching to glass jars, inverted, but just haven't gotten around to it.  I stuff the inner frame feeder with straw so the bees have lots of material to climb onto so they don't drown.  Seems to be working.  BEst of a great day, good health.  Cindi

[Brian D. Bray]

I often use new unused paint cans that I buy at my local paint store.  they cost about $1.99 each.  Much cheaper than the pails and I've been doing it that way since 1959.  If it works, stay with it.

[daniel]

Thanks for the info everyone.  It does seem to be working so I think I will just keep doing what I'm doing. Always good to get other ideas.  Dan

[Cindi]

Be careful of the s.s. dripping on the ground through the SBB.  This can bring robbing situations.

Remember, there could be neighbours that don't feed their bees when there are periods of no nectar.  These are hungry bees and will certainly take advantage of free syrup.  Have a wonderful night, great day, and wishes of good health.  Cindi