Ways to feed question

[kmartin]

This is my first attempt with bees. They arrived the 9th and hiving them was no problem. On third day I checked to see of the queen had been released. She hadn't been so I opened the cage and watched her leave it. Comb had been started on 4 frames (1/3 or more covered). So I am thinking things are working OK.

My questions have to do with feeding approaches and amounts. I have been using a plastic entrance feeder and going through about 3 cups of 1:1 a day. At first I thought the amount was too much and that it was just leaking out onto the bottom board. I've tried to check the best I could by sliding out the removable portion and placing a catch tray under the feeder. No leaks. Is 3 cups or more a day excessive?

From reading posts here, it seems that no one is using entrance feeders. Is top feeding (baggie or jar) that much better?

Thanks

[iddee]

You are doing just fine. Keep up the good work. A quart a day will sometimes be taken. Just be sure to quit feeding when you put the honey super on. You don't want sugar honey when you harvest.

[Jesse]

Being in the south - not having to worry about cold temps - I would go with a top feeder. I have the polystyrene feeder from betterbee, it works great.

You can fill it without opening the hive and it holds a lot of syrup.

3 cups a day isn't a lot - I've had them take over 1/2 gallon in a day before.

Good luck

Jesse

[flathead]

A newly hived package or swarm will take a lot of syrup when there is comb to build. After comb building they will store it and cap it too.

I would feed them until there is a flow on or they stop taking it.

When we have quart jars on the entrance feeders they will drain it in 24 hours, sometimes almost overnight.

We like the styrofoam top feeders.

http://zacharyfarmsllc.com/some_feeders_we_use.htm

[Brent Bean]

I have tried most every way of feeding all have good points and bad, but I have settled on one gallon buckets that I feed on top of the hive threw a plug installed in the outer cover or if it is cold inside an empty super. Sounds like things are going well, sometimes they will surprise you with how much they will consume. Good luck and happy beekeeping.

[Jeffzhear]

Personally, I like the Boardman Entrance feeders. I can do a drive by and check the levels quickly without having to spend much time. I don't want to go into the hive everytime I need to check the level or pop the top. And they are relatively inexpensive.

[drobbins]

the reason people avoid entrance feeders is lots of folks think when you have several hives, having feed right by the entrance invites robbing.
if you're starting your first hives this isn't much of an issue (no strong hives to be the robbers)
try to be careful not to spill syrup, that's the real problem

Dave

[MountainCamp]

Entrance feeders can promote robbing if they leak or the entrance next to them is open.

Entrance feeders also may not be used in cold or cool weather.

3 cups of syrup is quite possible to be used by a hive in a day.