Hivetop feeder?

[aircooled]

Hey everybody, just got my first two packages of bees and I am getting starter jitters. I have two of those beemax hivetop feeders, but I am buggin out if that is a good thing to do to feed them - every starter book I see they use a can or some other thing. Please let me know if my method is OK. Also - shoudl I put a pollen patty in there right from the start, or give them a little while? I got some megabee all mixed up, but I don't want to go too crazy right outta the gate. Many thanks!

-mike

[iddee]

Hive top feeders are great if the temp is warm enough for them to venture up to it.

A pollen patty certainly won't hurt them, and they need it to feed the new brood if there is no natural pollen to be had, or it is too cold for them to get out and collect it.

[Ravenseye]

Is there pollen available? Nectar? Watch the girls. I'm going to guess that they'll be bringing in some pollen. If so, you could pass on the patty. I might lean towards giving them 1:1, just to stimulate pulling wax or to supplement nectar. Just my two cents.

[Michael Bush]

Any kind of feeder is ok. A hive top is quite nice.

[Jeffzhear]

I have a few of these and am thinking of buying a bunch more this year...I really like them because I can pop the covers and fill them without disturbing the honeybees and I don't have to get suited up to fill the feeder...

https://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=761

[jerry]

keep putting pollen on them and feed them till they stop taken it
and the nectar follow come on real strong in your area it probable a good idea to
give the at least about there to four pound of pollen a week . to keep
the Queen health . jerry

[WVbeekeeper]

keep putting pollen on them and feed them till they stop taken it
and the nectar follow come on real strong in your area it probable a good idea to
give the at least about there to four pound of pollen a week . to keep
the Queen health . jerry

You can give them three to four pound of pollen a week, but chances are they will not require that much. First they need to build comb to use for storing pollen. 1:1 sugar syrup is very important to keep on the colony to help them draw the comb. Making Invert Sugar Syrup (http://wvbeekeeper.blogspot.com/2008/01/making-invert-sugar-syrup.html) . If you don't buy the premade patties, click here to read about Making Pollen Patties (http://wvbeekeeper.blogspot.com/2008/02/making-pollen-patties.html). A one pound pollen patty can take up some space on the top bars. Don't try to cram a three or four pound patty into your hive. http://bp0.blogger.com/_ZpvYlup3cFc/R7fnnwqIoXI/AAAAAAAAAKM/jMdbOC6o34A/s1600-h/IMG_2495.JPG
If your bees are bringing in pollen now I would not worry much about the patties. By the time they have comb drawn out for the queen they will be putting real pollen in there which is better than any patty is. It looks like you have as much pollen in your area as I do by looking at the pollen map. My bees are bringing in a lot of pollen now. http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/allergies/index_large.html

[be lote]

i like top feeder better than entrance to keep robbin down. will use entrance feeder for waterin later on.

[aircooled]

WV - I did follow your advice on inverting the sugar, but used lemon juice... we'll see how the ladies like leony sugar syrup - it tasted awesome to me!!

Do I put the inner cover under the hivetop feeder, on top of the hivetop feeder, or leave it off entirely? I am tempted to leave it off for now, but if someone could let me know...

-mike

[Jeffzhear]

WV - I did follow your advice on inverting the sugar, but used lemon juice... we'll see how the ladies like leony sugar syrup - it tasted awesome to me!!

Do I put the inner cover under the hivetop feeder, on top of the hivetop feeder, or leave it off entirely? I am tempted to leave it off for now, but if someone could let me know...

-mike

I leave the inner cover off completely and put it back on after the feeder is removed.

[Ravenseye]

I only use the inner cover when the feeder is off.

[Lightning]

W.V. do you have an illustration of this joint on a super and do any of you have a good plan for a box joint jig?