Photo request - lid of a 2 gallon paint bucket feeder

**marcuscarr** · 03-03-2009, 06:45 AM

I decided to use a 2 gallon paint bucket feeder instead of the entrance feeders that I originally purchased.

Can someone post a picture of the lid of their 2 gallon feeder so I can get an idea of the number, size and pattern of the holes that are used?

Thanks!

**no1cowboy** · 03-03-2009, 03:05 PM

put the lid over the hole you will be feeding from on the top board, then flip it over and trace the hole on the lid. this will give you the area that your holes need to be in. I think tholes would be 1/16th not sure on that one though.

**jack Jones** · 03-03-2009, 03:36 PM

I use 5qt icecream buckets from wal-mart and put 30 /36 holes .the individual holes are just larger than 1/16 inch depending the size nail I can find the more holes the faster the bees can get the syrup. When mixing the sugar and water a small amount of the sugar will not melt and will stop up the holes therefore I mix the sugar in a different bucket and pour into the feeding bucket.

**leamon** · 03-03-2009, 06:51 PM

This is off the subject of your post but may I suggest an alternative? I fed an average of 25# to 4 hives last fall using styrofoam boxes that I got for free at a local grocery. Frozen fish came in them so I would think you could get them where ever fish are sold. I cut a piece of styrofoam or thin paneling just enough smaller to float, put an empty and a 1/8" screen over the top. You can then refill without problem with the bees. After the feeding was over I took the boxes out and had an average of 30-40 dead bees. I tried using the jar or can feeder over a hole but everytime you remove it to refill you must contend with the bees. The boxes I used would hold 1-2 g. I put about 1 g. at a time.
leamon

**Tom G. Laury** · 03-03-2009, 07:28 PM

One big advantage to feeder holes in the lid is that the feed bucket or whatever can be removed without breaking loose the lid or cover. This is real important during cold windy stormy conditions.