A small bee tragedy

[hikerboy]

So I put the hive top feeder on today with some syrup in anticipation of medicating them this weekend...what I didn't know was that during the winter, the top cover must've warped a little bit. I checked on them late this afternoon and found about 100-150 drowned bees. I guess they had crawled in between the exterior of the upper super and the warped lid. Really bummed me out.

I'm going into my second year in beekeeping and just thought I'd share this bit of info so it doesn't happen to anybody else. I'm going to buffer the edges of the top cover so it won't happen again, and then remove that when I remove the feeder. Lesson learned, but it was just a drag.

[riverrat]

can I ask what you are medicating them for

[Jeffzhear]

So I put the hive top feeder on today with some syrup in anticipation of medicating them this weekend...what I didn't know was that during the winter, the top cover must've warped a little bit...

It was a good thing that you checked on them the same day! The loss could have been much worse, I suppose!

[hikerboy]

can I ask what you are medicating them for

Nosema (with fumagilin)...my local beekeeper recommended it....esp. because I was too late to medicate in the Fall.

[Bizzybee]

Screen the top of your feeders.

[Ravenseye]

I use stick on door weatherstripping applied to the top of the feeder. The cover squishes down on top of the foam and solves the problem. If you have a really warped top cover, that would be a problem.

[hikerboy]

I weatherstripped it as a temporary solution last night....the screen seems like it might be the easiest solution though.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Ben Brewcat]

Hiker, is it a Miller-type feeder? The screens are usually the culprit for me; they'll be a little bent somewhere and not quite meet the hive body or the molded plastic and bees sneak through the gap. I have to re-check them every time I use them.

[hikerboy]

Hiker, is it a Miller-type feeder? The screens are usually the culprit for me; they'll be a little bent somewhere and not quite meet the hive body or the molded plastic and bees sneak through the gap. I have to re-check them every time I use them.

No, I just checked the screen and all is well. Not to mention the fact that I saw eggs, honey, and larvae. They've been feisty lately so I'm relieved everything is going well...even saw them bringing in some yellow pollen today....whoohooo!