Author Topic: Jar feeders (Read 15110 times)

Woody Roberts · « **on:** March 14, 2014, 06:49:01 pm »

I made me some multiple jar feeders this week. Their the type that goes over your inner cover with #8 mesh you set the jars in.
Some hold 4 jars, some hold 6.

I've been feeding with the Baggie method but felt there had to be a better way.

My question is the bees don't seem to be taking as much as they did with the baggies. They've only been on a few days and I still have baggies on some so I can compare.

The first one I built I just set in the yard. It's going thru a gallon a day. Mostly to the neighboring bee trees I suspect.

Any of you used these before?

Jen · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2014, 06:55:39 pm »

Pics would be nice~

iddee · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2014, 06:55:52 pm »

Those I have seen used replaced the inner cover, not on top the inner cover. Maybe they are having trouble accessing them.

Woody Roberts · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2014, 06:59:22 pm »

I'll get my camera and see if I can get some pics up

Edit. Of course the battery is dead. I'll give it a few minutes.

barry42001 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2014, 07:15:11 pm »

I have used those feeders that are about the size of a shallow super, holds 2 & half gallons of syrup, but the bees drowned by the droves in it. even floating wood sticks in it didn't prevent it. consequently I stopped using them

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Woody Roberts · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2014, 07:40:08 pm »

i havent put the screens on these yet. I have some on the hives without screens till i see what works best.

Slowmodem · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2014, 07:43:20 pm »

Here's a picture of the one I got from Kelley's:

Woody Roberts · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2014, 07:50:05 pm »

I'd bought one like these but it was 22.00 bucks and I thought I could make some for that.

I was feeding in the yard with a makeshift rig like Barry's talking about but the causality rate was pretty high.

riverbee · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2014, 08:32:24 pm »

no, i don't use these, i use a one gallon pail inverted over the inner cover, but i would say what iddee did:

"Those I have seen used replaced the inner cover, not on top the inner cover. Maybe they are having trouble accessing them."

also, what are your night time temps woody?

Woody Roberts · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2014, 09:05:59 pm »

My night time temps are still pretty cool. I've been feeding with baggies a couple weeks.

Jen · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2014, 09:07:01 pm »

Riv ""no, i don't use these, i use a one gallon pail inverted over the inner cover, but i would say what iddee did""

I'm intrigued with this pail your talking about and I forgot what company you get them from?

riverbee · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2014, 09:25:37 pm »

"My night time temps are still pretty cool. I've been feeding with baggies a couple weeks."

woody, these baggie feeders sit right on top your frames, a big difference versus placing a jar over the inner cover or placing them over on whatever over the inner cover(heat from the cluster). to feed over the hive you want your temps ideally well above freezing and probably at about 50 degrees for them to take it down. some beeks here will take them off at night, warm them up the next day and place back on.

jen, my one gallon pails are just plastic with a stainless steel screen glued/melted in the center. i put them on with an empty deep to cover and insulate the box if temps are cooler. i get these from b and b honey farm:

One Gallon Feeder Pail

One Gallon Feeder Pail Lid

ps the pails do come with the lids, but the 2nd link has a better photo of what the lids look like.

crazy8days · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2014, 10:27:17 pm »

Home Depot has 2 gal pails with lids in the paint dept. They will fit under a empty deep. I drill hole in the center with a # 57 drill bit. Work great.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2014, 11:07:44 pm »

The difference between a baggie and the jars is that the baggie will take more warmth from the cluster, the jars dissipate too much heat.. Or don't absorb enough of it from the cluster. Let the temps warm up a bit and you will love the jar feeder.

Just remember to keep them covered.. if its 40 at night and 70 in the daytime the jars will dribble if the sun hits them.

Woody Roberts · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2014, 11:40:11 pm »

Lazy
These are my thoughts also.

riverbee · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2014, 12:00:39 am »

sort of what i said earlier?........

Woody Roberts · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2014, 12:07:30 am »

Quote from: riverbee on March 15, 2014, 12:00:39 am

sort of what i said earlier?........

Exactly!!

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2014, 01:40:51 am »

Sorry Mrs Riv... Didn't mean to step on your toes.. I skipped too much when reading through the posts and missed it.. I humbly beg for your forgiveness!!!

apisbees · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2014, 06:21:40 am »

It is not that impotent in the spring that the bees actually takes the syrup down and stores it but that it is there for their use if needed. If they run out of honey they will suck the syrup regardless of temperature. As long as it is on the hive it will encourage the bees to expand the brood area providing the have pollen, the bee population, favorable temps, and space to lay.

tefer2 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 15, 2014, 09:33:25 am »

Riv, you have any problems with them closing the screen holes with propolis?
Can you buy just the screens from them?