Talk:Feeder (beekeeping)

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"Standard" recommendations for feeding are 1:1 in the spring and 2:1 in the fall. Which is backwards of what this article states. Granted there are many beekeepers with many opinions on what is the best when and why, but these are the generally accepted guidlines. 1:1 to simulate nectar and stimulate brood rearing and 2:1 for winter stores so it doesn't have to be dried so much.

There are many different kinds of feeders in general use. Only two are mentioned here.

Types of feeders: o Divison board or frame feeder o Miller or top feeder (with several variations of this type) o Boardman o Rapid (tm) feeder o Mason jars on top of either the bars, the inner cover or through a hole in the lid o Paint pails or plastic gallon pails on top o One litre bottles through a hole in the lid o "Bathtub" bottoms or "tipped back" bottom boards with syrup spilled on the bottom (as in the styrofoam nucs from Betterbee or as mentioned by Roger Morse in his queen rearing books or Jay Smith in "Queen Rearing Simplified" or in his many articles in the bee journals. Usually fed in the evening so it will be cleaned up by morning.

Most of these feeders can be found in various beekeeping supply catalogs.

Jay Smith's bottom board feeder: "The feeder I prefer is made by nailing a strip across the bottom-boards in the deep side about two inches back of the entrance. In fact, when order the regular bottom-board I order an extra piece like the one used for the back cleat on the deep entrance. If this is not going to be used for some time, the bees will stop up all the cracks and make it water tight. If it is to be used at once, pour melted wax or paraffin along the cracks until it is tight. This feeder costs only three or four cents and is always there and never in the way. Moreover, it does not interfere in any way with the ventilation. If a driving rain comes up, this cleat keeps the rain from beating in. If you find a colony that needs feeding, all that is necessary is to slide the hive ahead about two inches on the bottom board and pour the syrup in by allowing it to flow against the back of the hive. It will thus spread out and run down into the bottom-board feeder. A funnel can be used if preferred. This bottom-board feeder holds about ten pounds of syrup. Of course, the hive must be level to prevent the syrup from running out. If a colony needs heavy feeding, the bees may be fed three or four evenings just at dusk, and before morning they will have all of the feed cleaned up away from robbers. This is a very good feeder for stimulating during queen-rearing also. If used every day for this purpose, it is best to have a thin board about two inches wide and the length of the bottom-board across the end as a sort of lid. Then, when feeding, this cover is raised and syrup poured in." --Jay Smith, Queen Rearing Simplified CHAPTER XXXII http://www.bushfarms.com/beesqueenrearingsimplified.htm

Picture of Jay Smith's bottom board feeder: http://www.bushfarms.com/images/JaySmithFeeder.jpg http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm

And these are just for syrup. People also have a variety of methods of feeding sugar and candy as emergency feed.

Michael Bush 16:00, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Change to article about feeding instead?
It seems odd to have an article about feeders, when instead an article about feeding in general would make more sense. One can't really deal with feeders without also dealing with feeding. -- leuce (talk) 13:54, 5 January 2016 (UTC)