Why not a Top Cover/Top Feeder Combo?

[DMLinton]

Starting with only nucs this Spring, I have to be prepared to do lots of feeding.  Given also that I am building all of my own woodware, I got thinking about redundancy and efficiency .... and it occurred to me that building inner covers AND hive top feeders looks like redundancy of sorts.

The hive top feeders, typically Miller type as far as I can see, hold around 2 1/2 US gallons (~10 litres), which seems like a rather large amount of syrup to set out at one time - especially in warm weather.  Combining the two items would provide for an always available feeder.

To get to my question, is there a reason(s) that inner covers and a modified (scaled down) version of hive top feeders could not be combined into one piece of equpment?   Obviously the screen part of a typical Miller feeder would have to be made removable or redesigned.

[Crofter]

You will likely be feeding for quite a while with a new nuc drawing comb But if there is a good flow on they may quit taking syrup and then will fill the underneath of the feeder with comb. Any space the bees cannot police may be infested with ants. Hopefully we will not get hive beetles but in an area where they were an issue this setup would not be good.  Are you still planning to house hives inside a building? Will you have top entrances? That can be a consideration with hive top feeding.

I have a bunch of the Mann Lake hive top feeders and for winter their wood surrounds (shallow hive body dimensions I think) serve as a quilt box and dry feed container.

[LazyBkpr]

The only two concerns I might have would be ventilation and the bees making burr comb in the feeder entrance, so much will depend on the redesign. Please post pics when you do it!!!

[DMLinton]

You will likely be feeding for quite a while with a new nuc drawing comb But if there is a good flow on they may quit taking syrup and then will fill the underneath of the feeder with comb. Any space the bees cannot police may be infested with ants. Hopefully we will not get hive beetles but in an area where they were an issue this setup would not be good.  Are you still planning to house hives inside a building? Will you have top entrances? That can be a consideration with hive top feeding.

I have a bunch of the Mann Lake hive top feeders and for winter their wood surrounds (shallow hive body dimensions I think) serve as a quilt box and dry feed container.

I like plan for worst, hope for best and endup closer to the latter than the former.  It does mean, however, being prepared to feed for a good part of the Summer ... or more.

In fact I am leaning heavily toward using top entrances.  Official plan still calls for conventional bottom entrances because I do not see a compelling reason to deviate from that convention ... except, possibly, for overwintering nucs. 

Hives will be indoors.  To start, this will be, essentially, an overgrown garden shed.

Good point on the hive beetle aspect - we don't have them yet but should be tuned in to the probability of their arrival.

[DMLinton]

The only two concerns I might have would be ventilation and the bees making burr comb in the feeder entrance, so much will depend on the redesign. Please post pics when you do it!!!

Hmmm, yes, didn't consider the potential for burr comb.  What I had in mind was a "standard" bottom lip (1/4"?) but extending the upper lip to an 1 1/4", or so.  The center hole would need to have a "dam".  The idea is to have something that would hold, say, 3 or 4 litres (quarts) of syrup.  Gotta contemplate the burr comb potential. 

Maybe the approach should be an experiment.  I build the inner cover/feeder combo first.  If I have time, I build also some inner covers.  In any case, I have to be prepared for my idea not working.  I will probably use migratory covers - it least for when the hives are indoors.

[LazyBkpr]

I have... a feeder tat I don't have pics of yet that may be of interest..  Its just a board with three holes for three mason jars. It has a 3/4 inch rim under it with no openings in the rim. I just set it on a hive over the inner cover hole and put another box over it. I don't use inner and tele covers on the nucs, just migratory style covers, but if your thinking of using inner covers, a feeder like this could be used on ANY of your hives or nucs. They are quick and easy to make.
   If you want to stick with the Miller style feeder, then make a "cap" for the feeder entrance with screen on it so you can slide it into the gap. The bees cant get past that screen to burr up the feeder when its not in use, and it will still let air flow?

[Slowmodem]

I like my Mann Lake Hive Top feeders.  I head to run a bead of silicone around the screen to keep them out of they syrup.  And I have to run them on top of the inner cover to keep the bees from building comb and laying eggs under the feeder.

http://gregsbees.blogspot.com/search?q=feeder

[LazyBkpr]

[DMLinton]

Here is a sketch (top and long side views) of the sort of thing I had in mind.  The only differences between this and a typical inner cover are the increased height and the divider in the center.  Each side would hold just over two quarts if filled to the overflow level.   

[apisbees]

First as mentioned before the burr comb will be built. Second the upper entrance in the inner cover if provided is closed By sliding the cover against the opening.

[keeperofthebees]

The only two concerns I might have would be ventilation and the bees making burr comb in the feeder entrance, so much will depend on the redesign. Please post pics when you do it!!!

Burr comb isn't too bad to deal with....  You sit the feeder out on an asphalt driveway or black rubber roof on a hot day, and the wax/burr will melt right off.

[iddee]

Looks good for dry feed. Would drown many bees with liquid. For liquid, I would screen the ramp and a screen from the bottom of ramp to top of feeder.