Comments on: Feeder Comparison

By: Robo

Robo — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:16:26 +0000

I guess it all depends on your personal philosophy of ventilation vs. heat retention, but that is another topic in itself. Feral hives don’t like ventilation and tend to seal up the cavity as tightly as possible. If ventilation is a concern, you can prop the jar up on 2 shims or offset it so it does not cover the entire hole.

By: Wimal

Wimal — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:14:29 +0000

When using inverted jar/can feeder covering the center hole of the inner cover, won’t that impair the ventilation of the hive as the ventilation hole is above the center hole?

By: Robo

Robo — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:51:05 +0000

Hi Robert,

I haven’t used that particular one, but glad to hear you don’t have a drowning issue. Although drowning is a big issue, it is only one of the inherent disadvantage (at least to me) of all Miller-type feeders.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:20:35 +0000

I bought 5 top feeders from brushy mountain last year the wooden ones with the floats in them they did’nt seem to pose a drowning problem and held a lot of syrup. They do expose you to the bees when filling but this did’nt seem to be a problem as the bees seemed to ignor me. Have you tried these and what if any is your opinion of them.

By: Anne Fraser

Anne Fraser — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:18:07 +0000

Abigail, I just got some Imirie shims (basically a 3/4″ frame the same footprint as a super) and stapled screen over it, you can put this on top of any hive-top feeder or under the telescoping cover for hive ventilation.

By: Robo

Robo — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:45:49 +0000

When I feed syrup I use glass one gallon pickle jars inverted over the inner cover. If you need to leave them for a long time, you can put up to 4 gallon jars on 3/8″ shims on the innercover. I have found no easier/cheaper/better way to feed syrup.

By: Ambrosino

Ambrosino — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:02:45 +0000

Can you tell me what type of top feeder you're using? I'm about to get two hives. I had one hive that died this year. The Boardman feeder id easy, but I have a problem with robbers and with 2 hives, I'm guessing it's going to take more time filling, replacing, cleaning the qt. jars not to mention being tied to the hives so I can't leave for a few days during feeding times (new hives, droughts). Brushy Mountain has a wooden one that's advertided as being "the best fedder on the market"…

Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. This novice needs it!. Thanks

abigail;

By: Abigail

Abigail — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:34:17 +0000

I want to go to a top feeder this year. I’ve seen how it’s installed for cool weather; however, I live in the South and lost my hive this year to chalkbrood virus (caused from poor air circulation in the hive). So instead of the telescope innercover, I’ve made a screen (used window screen to keep out the hive beetles we’re plagued with here). Got any ideas as to how I can use a gallon jug or top feeder and keep the screen? Thank you.

abigail

By: Abigail

Abigail — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:23:42 +0000

Can you tell me what type of top feeder you’re using? I’m about to get two hives. I had one hive that died this year. The Boardman feeder is easy, but I have a problem with robbers and with 2 hives, I’m guessing it’s going to take more time filling, replacing, cleaning the qt. jars not to mention being tied to the hives so I can’t leave for a few days during feeding times (new hives, droughts). Brushy Mountain has a wooden one that’s advertised as being “the best feeder on the market”…

Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. This novice needs it!. Thanks

abigail

By: Robo

Robo — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:44:49 +0000

If you let the bees into the empty box around the jar, don’t they build burr comb in the box?

I have been letting the bees have access to the area above the inner cover for year, whether it be a vent box, or an empty super for a feeder jar, and have never had them build comb up there. The inner cover provides a barrier and the bees don’t like to split the nest. Of course, if you really cramp them, you could get them to build comb there, but if they have sufficient room below, they will resist the urge.

rob…