Pale feeders

[Johnny]

Can someone explain to me how a 2 gallon bucket top feeder works??

[Ross]

Sure. You need a top with a hole in it big enough for a few bees to get through. I make mine 1.5" or so, but 3/4" will work. Drill a few holes in the bucket lid near the center. I make mine 1/32" or so, but pretty small. 3 is enough for slow feeding, more for faster, but don't get carried away. Mix your syrup and fill the bucket. Make sure you tap the lid down tight. A rubber mallet works well, or a wood block. Invert the bucket on the top, covering the hole. The bees come up and pull syrup from the holes in the bucket lid.

[hummingberd]

I've heard that you have to make sure that the syrup is cool because warm syrup is thinner and can cause the syrup to leak. Also, make sure you fill the think up all the way to get a proper vacuum.

[Ross]

It will leak a bit more if you don't fill it all the way, but it will eventually stop if you don't have an air leak. There is no such thing as cool syrup in Texas in the summer, so I don't buy that one.

[Keith Jarrett]

It will leak a bit more if you don't fill it all the way, but it will eventually stop if you don't have an air leak. There is no such thing as cool syrup in Texas in the summer, so I don't buy that one.

It will leak alot more if you don't fill to the top, are you feeding the bees or ants?

Also what HB was referring to as warm/cold syrup was I beleive, in the morning when the sun first hits the feeder you will lose vacuum and the feeder can leak some at that time due to heat expantion of the feeder.

[high rate of speed]

Two 1/32 holes works the best.I think as keith said the heat and the early morning sun plays a big part.

[Ian]

I never had any luck with drilling holes. I tried and quickly switched everything to screens. Screened feeders work great!

[Keith Jarrett]

Ya Ian,

And 55 gals drums work better. lol

[Ian]

no doubt!

though I hate feeding my neighbours bees,

[alpha6]

Plastic doesn't work well with the change in temp we get here. It can get to the high 40's at night and then up to 82 in the day. (course its a dry heat )

I find that glass containers with metal lids work best. I haven't tried a metal paint pail, but I may give that a try though I suspect that after a while the lid won't seal very well.

[Johnny]

Nice!! Thanks guys for the help. I may have to try that some time.

[papa bear]

hey johnny, i use pail feeders and top feeders. i have colonys that like one above the other. i prefer the screen (bought) lids, but have took a nail and made holes. i invert the pail and place it on an inner cover, and put small sticks to give room for the bees to get under it. i used to put it directly over the center hole , but i felt like that hindered ventalation and cause moister in the hive. then to prevent robbing, i take an empty super and place it on top of the inner cover and place on an outer cover with popcicle sticks in the coners to provide ventilation