Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: Bakersdozen on October 27, 2014, 03:06:57 am
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Out of desperation and lack of equipment, on one hive I placed two boardman feeders on top of the inner cover. I then set a deep brood box on top and then the lid. I have a real problem with robbing at this time. I always like to offer sugar syrup in the fall for peace of mind. All the other hives have feeder pails on them, but I am hoping this works. I have hive top feeders, the kind with two wells and the bees come up the middle to access the feed, but I have a lot of drowning problems with those.
Will the boardmans work under there?
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I would just find a couple of plastic pails of any kind, punch a bunch of tiny holes in the lid and use that instead. Almost any bakery or sub sandwich/ restaurant place will have them for free.
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bakers, the boardmans will work under there, covered, as you did.
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They will work fine, with one precaution. If the bees can get into the upper area, be sure to remove them before spring. The first new comb drawn in the spring will be above the feeders if the area is accessible.
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I agree with all the above :o Well maybe except one totally. ;D I have done that baker12 and it worked just fine, i'm guessing you have already reduced the entrance? (mouse gard) Jack
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yes, boardmans are much less trouble in the box and a reduced entrance is best
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I have, three times in my beekeeping adventures, had boardmans PACKED solid with dead bees, allowing the syrup to dribble continuously until the jar was empty.. Which is why I worked so hard to modify the boardmans.. On the top boards I would just use a couple sticks under the jar to support it.. two entrance reducers work well to support the jar and give ample access to it. OR, use a baggie..
I really do not like the boardmans as designed.
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I'm fixing to try some 1 gallon zip lock freezer bags sitting on top of the frames. Then cut a slit on top of it. Have a beek friend that feeds syrup this way.
Says it works great.
Anyone try it?
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scott, if i read your post correctly, bakers isn't using boardmans off the front of the hive (would agree with your comments on boardmans, i don't use them to feed syrup anyway), but she is using them on top the inner cover, covered by a deep.....? maybe i misread what you said?
ps yankee, no i have not used the ziplocks to feed.
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I have boxes and boxes of ziplocs bought for this purpose. I'm not happy with the results but that may be due to temps around here. Given a choice I set a boardman jar or a boardman feeder with jar on top of the frames and pop a box and lid over it.
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1/2 gallon pickle jar inverted over inner cover opening works good $4.00 for the jar of pickles at walmart.
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scott, if i read your post correctly, bakers isn't using boardmans off the front of the hive (would agree with your comments on boardmans, i don't use them to feed syrup anyway), but she is using them on top the inner cover, covered by a deep.....? maybe i misread what you said?
ps yankee, no i have not used the ziplocks to feed.
I understood that she was using them on the top bars. Just had to post about my bad luck in hopes of dissuading anyone else from such a disaster.. anyone ignoring said warning I dont have to feel like a heel at the dog pound if it happens to them. ;D
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........... :D
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Just read upthread. I've not had the boardman pack solid with dead bees causing syrup to drip around, but I can definitely see that happening. I am comfortable with jar over inner cover opening or just jar set on top of a couple of sticks on top of frames. The boardman jar is the best part of the darned feeder.
If you try the baggy, be sure you have enough space above it before you put that lid on.. I built fancy 1x2 spacers for the baggies but still seemed to have some leakage when all the bees walked on them at once or something
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Thanks for the advise fellow beekeepers. The boardmans are on top of the inner cover, surrounded by a deep, with a telescoping lid and brick on top. I will remove this when they either quit taking down the feed or the temps dip.
I have an entrance reducer on all hives.
I have the lid in place to keep intruders out. I also have electrician's tape over the notched hole in the inner cover.
I have tried the Ziploc baggie with messy results. I know a beekeeper that uses them all the time and even put a bunch of nails in a board to use as a puncturing devise for the baggies.
I've never had a boardman feeder pack with dead bees. Anything is possible. But I sure have had the hive top feeders fill with dead bees. :'(
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Bakers12, i use top feeders and i cut bubble wrap with just enough room for it to float on top of the syrup and have little or no drowning of bees. Just thought you might want to try it sometime. Jack
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Terriffic suggestion, Jack. Next time I feed my bees (which is very rarely), I hope to remember that anti-drowning method.
Thanks.
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Bakers12, i use top feeders and i cut bubble wrap with just enough room for it to float on top of the syrup and have little or no drowning of bees. Just thought you might want to try it sometime. Jack
Jack, I am trying to picture this because it is a good idea. Do you cut rectangle pieces of bubble wrap to completely fit the wells?
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Yes, and the big bubble wrap works best,but i've used the smaller type. I also cut small slits in it so the syrup seeps through. Just make sure it can ride up and down in your opening. Jack