Winter feeding

[wltwine]

Hello fellow Beekeepers, My question is about feeding my bees in the winter, I have a feeder that fits on top of the super, do I have to take off the inner cover to use this feeder? and if so does the outer cover just lay flat on the feeder, (concerned about ventilation), also feeding suger do I just sprinkel it on the frames, and do I have to remove the inner cover also, I would appreciate any info thanks.

[Ravenseye]

The hive top feeder you have sounds like it's used for feeding syrup. If so, it rests directly on top of the upper box and filled with syrup. No ventilation is provided unless you modify something. The outer cover rests directly on top. No inner cover is used.

If you're intending to feed dry sugar, you don't need the top feeder. You can lay newspaper on top of the frames and pour the sugar on top of the paper. Add a shim or a box to surround the sugar, then an inner and top cover. Some people use an inner cover instead of the newspaper.

I wet feed (syrup) until they stop taking it. Normally, they would be done by now but they're still busy feeding. When done with the syrup and if I intend to feed dry sugar, I lay newspaper on the frames of the top box, put an old medium on the hive, sprinkle sugar on the frames and top with the inner and outer covers. The rest is up to them.

[SwedeBee1970]

My syrup feeders are inside the box and they have vent slots on both sides. With this setup, the inner lid is not used to keep them from entering and drowning. Unless I'm feeding dry, I'll modify the venting so they can get through and insert the inner lid. Would suggest 2:1 syrup until one of the following: They stop taking it or night time temps get below 32 for more than a week. Dry sugar crystal after that until warmer.

Another advantage to the inside feeder is that you don't have to remove it and release any stored heat from a cluster or bees, keeping them quieter and warmer on those chilly days you need to check sugar levels.

[Dave W]

Winter feeding is NOT "normal". Bees are NOT pets, something to be fed and watered everyday. When properly managed througout the year, bees never need winter "feeding".

[wltwine]

Didn't mean to upset anybody, just want to do things right.

[brooksbeefarm]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Winter feeding is NOT "normal". Bees are NOT pets, something to be fed and watered everyday. When properly managed througout the year, bees never need winter "feeding".

In a perfect world that would be true but when you've had the rain that we've had spring, summer, and fall this year and last year it's a different story.Granted some of my hives are in good shape and will make it just fine, but i have some that without help they will die this winter.Let's not forget our fellow beekeepers who went through a bad drought this summer either, oh well i guess i got a little ticked, maybe we should do the normal thing and let them starve to death. Jack

[brac]

I am thinking you have the same top feeder I have, I place it on the hive then set an empty super over it, then inner and outter cover

[SwedeBee1970]

Brac,

Make sure your inner lid does NOT have the half moon slot on it or bees can enter and drown in the mix.

[BEES4U]

And, if possible
Feed them nice warm syrup so that it acts like a heat sink.
How light are these hives?
Ernie

[wltwine]

I have two deep supers total of twenty frames, both supers are for the bee's since this is their first year, checked the hive about a week ago, top frames were drawn out nicely, I have a miller type feeder, I just wanted to know if I take the inner cover off how dose the hive get the proper ventilation.