Plastic hive top feeders

[Charles Roberts]

Are the plastic hive top feeders vented someway so air can move up through the hive to vent moisture and keep the hive cool? If so, how much vent do they have? It is hot here so the hive needs a lot of air movement to keep the bees cool. Thanks.

Charles

[xC0000005]

Mine has mesh on top so the bees don't fly out while you refill it. I have used it in the past as a "screen top" to ventilate the hive.

[Dave W]

Hive-top feeders are usually used when bees need a lot of feed in short time frame (like feeding late in fall w/ winter just around the corner).

A "slow" feeder, maybe some gravity-type, might be best this time of year.

Having said that, I have used a cake pan inside a super "shell" for feeding. I just set the pan on the top bars and provide LOT of floats to prevent drowning. The pan is small enough not to block much ventilation through my fully screened inner cover.