Warre hive lift design - light, compact, cheap, and easy to build

[Zonker]

Have you considered using bakers fondant or just dry sugar? Might work better in the cold.

[ubernerd]

I want to thank ubernerd for the work he went through to get me going on the hive lift. I purchased the jack, found the wood, but will wait til next year to build it. I decided to build a feeder, one that will be accessible from the outside. I hate the idea of feeding, but I don't want to lose this little hive. The feeder goes partially under the hive box and 'hangs' on the side, so I won't be able to use the lift. Hopefully I'll only have to feed this winter and be able to remove the feeder in late spring or early summer. Then I'll be able to use the jack.
Thanks again, Will.
Pat

Good luck on your wintering. May we both be lucky enough to have hives next spring!

When you get there, if you have any more questions on how to build the lift, let me know. I'll be happy to help as much as I can.

[Solarbeez]

Have you considered using bakers fondant or just dry sugar? Might work better in the cold.

I wrestled with the feeding issues, wet or dry, top feed or side feed. After I built the side feeder I saw the article about wetting a bag of sugar, letting the bag dry, and placing it over the bars. But that means you need an empty box on top. The side feeder is accessible from the outside without having to open the hive. To me, that's the important thing. I haven't started feeding yet. The weather has warmed up and rain is on the way. The girls were flying today. I'll keep an eye on the comb through the observation window to see if they are using up the honey.

One concern with the side feeder is what if the cluster works it's way from the feeder side to the opposite side where they run out of stores...and then they need food. If that happens I guess I'll wait for a warm day between rain storms and place the sugar bag on top. We sometimes have a warm dry spell in late January for about a week.

I really don't know what the best method for feeding is...in my book it's "no feeding at all." I'm going to hold out as long as I can before I start feeding. My log hive is on it's own, but it's a stronger hive.

[Solarbeez]

Good luck on your wintering. May we both be lucky enough to have hives next spring!
When you get there, if you have any more questions on how to build the lift, let me know. I'll be happy to help as much as I can.

Thanks. I read some other posts about one Warre box going into winter. Some people have been successful at it. Our winters are fairly mild...but that also means that the bees are more active, needing more stores. It'll be interesting.