Feeders for waterers

[romduck]

I've previously used inverted buckets, boardman feeders, etc and have just picked up some white plastic hive-top feeders. the instructions noted that suggested uses include "watering" the bees in the Summertime and to increase ventilation in heat such as we have had.

I'm curious if anyone is using / has used hive top feeders in Summer at all, let alone for watering / feeding / ventilation or a combination of purposes.

I've done a search and found no information specific to those topics. I DID find a number of different opinions on the TYPES of feeders to use during other times of the year, hence my reason for trying the different feeders myself.

Any thoughts / experiences?

[Brent Bean]

I use a chicken fount, you can obtain them at farm supply stores. They hold a few gallons of water and the bees can climb out if they fall into the water.

[Michael Bush]

If I were in town with worried neighbors I probably would use them.

[romduck]

I actually have a number of local water sources around me (stream, swamp, rock area that collects runoff from garden watering) as well as a bird feeder that has never seen a bird, but has seen many, many bees.

I get the idea that if they already have a water source and they don't need immediate feeding then one wouldn't need to put or keep the feeders on.

[Brent Bean]

If they have a water source that they are use to, like your bird bath they would ignore a water source placed right next to the hive.