>Mike, when using the rapid feeder on top of inside cover, do you then place an empty hive box on top then outside cover?
Yes.
>Also, if you've ever raised young birds, we use a waterer that fits on top of plastic bottle/jar. When tipped over, it has a resevoir the water goes into(about 1/2" deep). Could something like this be used to be syrup mixture in?
I have not tried that, but some have and reported success with it. Any feeding method can drown some bees. If there are a lot drowning then it isn't working well. The rapid feeder is handier because you don't have to face any bees. You can fill it without so much as a veil. Also, the space the bees crawl down into the syrup from is only one bee space and it's serated so they don't fall in.
>I assume you'd have to place an empty box over it. If it's cold outside, will ther bees climb up into the empty box to feed?
If it's really cold the bees will not feed at all on anything but the honey right next to them. If the inside of the hive (not the cluster but the hive) is above 50 F or so they will climb up to a feeder, but if the syrup is still cold from the night before they can't take it.
If I feed in the spring, I always try to have hot syrup. Tap water and sugar gives me something warm enough but not too hot for the bees to take. But if there is syrup left in the feeders, I often boil the new syrup so that I can add it to the left over cold syrup and warm it up.
Bees will take a lot more warm syrup than cold syrup. Just don't get it too hot. You should be able to put your finger in it without getting burned. Like the temperature of good bath water.