question about feeder jar lids.

[Yankee11]

Ya know how it you leave a feeder jar on top of a hive to long the bees fill the holes? Does anyone know if you refill the jar, will/can the bees unclog the holes to get to the syrup.

I'm asking because I keep tossing the lids when they do that and have to re-punch new lids.

[Lburou]

I've just retouched the hole in the lid and it works just fine, haven't had to use a new lid. 

[Gypsi]

My lids rust before they clog them, but I bought those high dollar ones from Dadant with small holes, and I am getting a year or 2 service out of each. I have a vice grip jar opener for when they get stuck shut, mainly from rust, which either bleach or vinegar promote pretty well.  Since the rust is mainly in the rim I use them til they are useless then put a new one on.

http://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1455

The lids are so cheap they aren't on the website.   M00887, sells for $0.60 each

[Jen]

I take a safety pin or paper clip and reopen the holes. Im usually refilling the jars everyday or every other day so I can keep a track on if the holes are open. I don't think the bees mind if there is rust around the holes 

[LazyBkpr]

Hrm.. well, I steal my lids from my wifes candle shop when she is not looking, and poke holes in them with frame nails (not FRAMING nails)    A little rust but not too bad in most cases..   I also just re open the holes when they propolis them shut..   If the jar is kept filled they will not fill in the holes, its when the syrup runs out that they decide those holes need to be filled in.

[Gypsi]

Rust is iron oxide.   I'm not sure if it is an issue. Lids made with tin or containing lead are likely not good for the bees either.  Most food safe lids would not be.

[apisbees]

Plastic lids don't rust I like to use plastic pails with a few holes drilled in the lid. 1/2. To 1 gallon size most restaurants will give them to you.

[Jen]

At this point I'm still using a pint a day top feeder. I'm not sure about the table structures under my hives so I'm trying not to add weight. I will go to foundation blocks and a board next spring.

[riverbee]

yankee,
what scott said, and this goes for plastic pails as well with the screening insert on the lid, (they will propolize them to some extent):

"If the jar is kept filled they will not fill in the holes, its when the syrup runs out that they decide those holes need to be filled in."

they won't unclog the holes.....so as lee and jen suggested, get a new lid or just unclog them as they do......

[Gypsi]

plastic expansion, contraction and bpa worry me...  I'll take the rust

[Marbees]

When cleaning/washing jars in the spring from last year residue I let them soak in a bleach water solution, reopen holes with a needle or a toothpick, put them back on jars. Still using some of the original lids from 2010.

[Yankee11]

Thanks everybody.
I currently use the 2 piece canning lids and punch holes in the disk with a frame nail.

This way I keep the rings and just have to replace the disks, the disks are very cheap so if I get one that had been plugged I have been tossing the disk and punch another.  I was just curious if they could unplug holes if they knew syrup was on the other side.  I may try one and see what the do.

[Lburou]

I was just curious if they could unplug holes if they knew syrup was on the other side.  I may try one and see what the do.

I was unable to train my bees to clean the holes, good luck with yours. 

FWIW, my favorite feeder is a one gallon plastic honey bucket (mann lake), the lid of which I perforate with a dozen holes with a hot paper clip.  (Unfold the paper clip, hold it with a pliers and heat it with a torch til it glows red hot.......The red hot wire goes through the lid PDQ). 

The bucket goes upside down over the hole in the inner cover, then, protected from robbers and the sun by an empty hive body and an appropriate hive top.  I rarely feed to put on winter reserves, so, the dozen holes work well for stimulative feeding at various situations during the year.  HTH   

[Jen]

Lee and Yankee "I was unable to train my bees to clean the holes, good luck with yours

     What Lee said, I have three feeders going, one colony was not taking the fumig syrup at all, I believe I put a lid on that was already plugged and didn't notice, as soon as I figured it out I unplugged the holes and the syrup was gone by the end of the day.

[Yankee11]

Bingo, thank you. I'll just keep tossing when they get plugged.

I have a buddy that uses the 1 gallon zip lock bags and sets them on top of the frames. May give that a shot also.

[Jen]

Just unplug the holes, push a safety pin or paper clip end in the holes. I think it was in this thread... it was said that the bees plugged up the lids when the jar was empty for too long.

[Yankee11]

Yea, I know, I know. I sometimes get behind.

A Full time job, plus around 45 hives, I try to keep up.

[Jen]

Yankee, I could never handle 45 hives! I'm envious of men's upper body strength, besides you have had a phenomenal season 

[Scott Derrick]

I always used a "corn holder" to punch holes in my lids (when I used them). I'd just take the shortest "spike" out and use the longer. Worked like a champ for me. I got tired of using jars and went to 5 gallon buckets with about 60 holes punched in the lid. It operates off the same principle of creating a vacuum. Worked like a champ and didn't have to fill up every day.

[Jen]

Hi Scott    curious how many hives you have?