Bee hive feeder boxes are containers designed to sit inside a beehive and feed bees with sugar syrup without them drowning in it. They typically sit over the inner cover or brood box and under its roof. Each feeder box offers various clever solutions for admitting bees without risk of drowning.
One drawback of refilling the hive requires opening it, disrupting bees and potentially exposing yourself to bee stings.
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Internal Hive-Top Feeders
These feeders sit directly atop of a hive and can be reached easily from below. Equipped with a screened ladder system to prevent excessive bee drowning, these feeders come either for liquid or solid feed options.
Feeder hives provide a convenient method of feeding during winter and can be easily refilled without opening the hive, eliminating the need to smoke or disturb the colony and decreasing risk of access by raccoons that could spread disease through their feeding of syrup.
Metal feeders can be weighted down to prevent wind or raccoons from tipping them over, with sizes ranging from 1.5l for shallow supers to 6l jumbo feeders with round bottom holes that feature ridged cones that help bees walk up and down them easily.
External Hive-Top Feeders
A hive-top feeder sits atop your hive and holds syrup for your bees to access easily, while also protecting their food source from other bees who could try and steal from their colony. It makes refilling easy while providing your colony with access to enough sustenance without competition from outside bees robbing their food supply.
Apiary feeders are usually frame-sized boxes with rigid edges that bees can crawl beneath to access syrup, and should be used when installing a new hive for the first time, particularly after bees have been brought in as packages.
These containers offer similar advantages as division boards without their rigid sides and associated risk of bee drowning. Furthermore, they tend to be easier to fill up, can replace deep or medium supers and are easier to set up – however an extra super may still be necessary in case animals or high winds dislodge it from its position.
Entrance Feeders
Entrance feeders consist of a jar that sits outside the hive with a feeding tray that slips easily into its entrance for easy access. They’re an excellent solution for summer feeding as you can easily monitor feed levels without disturbing the hive, plus these types of feeders help deter robbing while offering features to prevent bees from drowning in syrup.
These types of feeders have their own set of disadvantages: in cold weather they may leak and even freeze bees below, attracting ants or other pests; should you choose this approach, consider placing a piece of wood at the base to give bees an island to stand on while they eat.
Division Board Feeders
Division board feeders resemble frames that sit inside of a beehive and contain sugar syrup for bees to access via ladder. While less risky from robbing attacks than open feeders, division board feeders may leak or clog over time.
One common method involves filling an inverted jar or can with sugar syrup and drilling or punching several small holes into its lid, placing it inside a hive on a pair of risers for easy placement (see image above) – no risk of robbery and no drips or spills to worry about; these feeders are particularly ideal for new colonies as well as those needing supplementation due to weather conditions or shortages in natural foraging sources.
Ultimate Direct Feeder
This feeder sits directly atop of a hive and comes equipped with an easily refillable one-gallon tank, featuring an automatic valve that prevents spillage while maintaining even syrup levels. Furthermore, its feeding tray features special designs to reduce drowning while making cleaning simpler.
This feeder is an ideal option for beekeepers looking for more hands-off management of their colonies. It can be used during summer and fall feedings or winter needs. With its translucent tank design, checking syrup levels is quick and simple without disturbing bees – plus this feeder works with 8-frame or 10-frame equipment and medium/deep hive bodies alike!
