Miller Type Feeders Plans and Bee Space

[mpjourdan]

Is the 3/4" center access channel in the miller type feeder plans excessive? Wouldn't 3/8" be better? Seams like 3/8 would limit comb building but not access to the feeder. I like the 3/4" for the syrup access channels, but I've always questioned the center channel width. Anyways, these are next on my list to build. Thanks - Mark Jourdan

[Michael Bush]

>Is the 3/4" center access channel in the miller type feeder plans excessive?

No.

>Wouldn't 3/8" be better?

No.

>Seams like 3/8 would limit comb building but not access to the feeder.

They will hardly ever fill a small space like that and if they did they would just use it as a ladder.

[NW IN Beekeeper]

You may want to look at all year versions.

After building my millers I wasn't all that impressed with the "light" amount of traffic my colonies had on colder days. I assume :rolleyes: this was because the bees were reluctant to venture to the colder hive walls.
While bees will travel almost anywhere they have to get fed, the less travel the less stress and the less stress the better survivability.
In case you ask, all-year (all-season) versions tend to have the channel up the center rather than on a side. See BeeCare.com

Link: http://www.beecare.com/Hardware/YRHTF.htm

I have not seen plans posted for this model, but the pictures are clear enough if you are industrious enough.

Good luck,

Jeff

[Brett]

I built some like the plans on this site. I did make a few adjustments thought.
1) the center opening is left at 3/4" for two way traffic to handle both sides of feed.
2) the drinking channels I reduced to 3/8" and put hardware cloth on both sides to use as a ladder. That maybe excessive but I don't figure it will hurt any.
I thought 3/4" was excessive for that since I only expect the one side to be used and not have a double layer of bees.

I also will be covering the entire top with hardware cloth to prevent bees getting in from the top and drowning. I also extended hardware cloth down from the "A" parts to the bottom to keep the bees out of the reseviour area.

I am having them parafin dipped and hope that makes them water tight. If not I'll have to paint the insides with wax to seal them up. I didn't think Polyurathane being submerged was the best idea.

[ March 13, 2006, 11:30 AM: Message edited by: Brett ]