Boardman Feeders

[tefer2]

I sometimes use them on a new hive for a source of water until they get settled in.

[Jen]

Perfect! Thanks guys, printing it off now ~

[LazyBkpr]

Lazy, we agreed on everything? Where do I send the cheque? 
Keep up the good work. 

   I will get my post office box address to you Within the next minute!!!!   

   Entrance feeders can be a pain, but to me, they are less a pain than most of the other types, which is why I set about trying to improve them. The effort to bypass some of the problems seems to have been fruitful, but it will probably take a couple years before I know how well the modifications worked.

   Water.. I don't have a problem with. I have hives where I circled in red.  The year before last, the fish snagged any bee that came close to the waters edge, so last spring I dug out the banks where its circled in yellow and refrained from spraying the moss in those spots. The bees land on the moss and get all the water they want without being eaten..  frogs and dragonflies still take their toll..   I mentioned doing in some bullfrogs and having frog legs,, but the wife likes listening to their deep bass rumbling while sitting beside the fire ring on summer evenings.. so I guess the bees are on their own with the bullfrogs.
   I have a lower pond and a creek about 1/4 mile away. Neighbors both have ponds as well, so water is in plentiful supply.

[iddee]

I have migratory tops with holes for jars, hive top feeders, boardman feeders. They all have a purpose at one time or another, for one situation or another. I don't think there is a "one size fits all" feeder.

[Jen]

Iddee - That's what I'm thinking as well. And my friend who will be using his boardman has his hive in his backyard, so he'll be able to keep an eye on it.

[LazyBkpr]

Agreed again 

   

  In situations I dont want to use the entrance feeders I use the modified inner covers with the jar.. I still dont have to open the hive, but worry about dribble, so the jars I put on the inner cover have less holes poked in them..
   It has a lot to do with price for me.. I really don't want to have to buy 20 - 40 hive top feeders, so I am trying to make the less impressive ways to feed work with less problems..   I could use some luck, so if any of you have any to spare send it my way..  I used up 93 years worth of good luck when my wife said YES.  Well, I thought so for the first 25 years anyhow

[riverbee]

jen, we all use different feeders, different reasons, and what suits each of us, i think that's what iddee was saying.

i don't use boardmans for any feeding except to provide water. the only feeder i use is a 1 or 2 gallon pail feeder, these are inverted over the hole of the inner cover.  works for me, and have never had a problem with them.  there is a trick to using these, fill them to the brim, snap the lid on and before placing them over the hive invert them over an empty bucket to let the first syrup fly out and check that they don't leak.  the buckets are covered with an extra deep.

also, i like using them because i can mix sugar and hot water in the pail, no heating sugar syrup on the stove, and these will last the bees much longer than a boardman, so for me less work. (don't care for the boardman's anyway).

[Perry]

Me and Riverbee are on the same page. All my feeding now is done by plastic bucket. 1 gal and 1 1/2 gal with a super around them. I have some German top feeders that work excellent, but only hold a half gallon (OK for hives close to home).