hive top feeder

[Rooster4473]

I have a hive top feeder, it seemed like for the last few weeks my bees have been taking about 2 gallons of sugar syrup a week. But this week they have only taken about a gallon. I did add a second hive body this week, could that have confused them and caused the slow up. And when do I remove the feeder or does it stay on all year long?

[Michael Bush]

I've had them move the brood nest into the feeder before. But that depends on the style if they can. I don't see any reason to leave it on except ventilation and you need to store it somewhere.

You can feed as long as you like, but once there is a flow on, you could make them work for a living.

You definitely want to quit feeding when you put the supers on or you will get sugar syrup in the combs instead of honey.

[honeybeesonly]

Rooster4473...i use feeders this year on my new hives...for just a few weeks (april 13-may 7) just to hold the bees over until they had their forage field mapped out and were able to sustain themselves. i agree you want to stop feeding them once you've got a resonable nectar flow for them to forage. you can check out the feeders i used on my website at http://www.honeybeesonly.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=album_cat&cat_id=1&sid=52a6a8d8d641cafdb1d4f513a8894d37

the last picture on the top row will show you the entrance feeder i used.

good luck...

ken

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