Feeding bees when resources are limited is a vital tool in your beekeeping arsenal. You can use it when starting a new colony or needing extra dry pollen during times of drought or pollen shortages.
Feed bees sugar syrup from a pail or jar with an upside-down lid creates a vacuum seal, preventing any potential leakage.
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1. Toughtimbers Hive Top Feeder
The Toughtimbers Hive Top Feeder is an ideal solution for beekeepers who want to provide their bees with reliable food during times of extreme drought. It fits a 10-frame hive and features several compartments that prevent bees from drowning.
This top feeder is equipped with a number of essential features that guarantee bees have enough nourishment during challenging times. Crafted from one piece of heavy-duty plastic that won’t leak, this feeder guarantees bees an ample supply during difficult conditions.
Beekeepers love these types of feeders because they’re easy to refill and don’t require opening the hive to check sugar water levels. This makes them an excellent investment for anyone wanting to save time while feeding their bees.
2. 1.1 Pound Entrance Feeder
If you need an easy and efficient way to keep your hives fed during difficult times, the 1.1 Pound Entrance Feeder is a great option. It has been securely fastened to keep robber bees away from syrup, while its straightforward design makes it simple to use.
It’s an ideal option for new beekeepers as it allows them to assess resource levels without disturbing the hive. Furthermore, this feeder is made from high-quality plastic and designed to last years.
Entrance feeders have the advantage of sitting outside the hive and not needing you to open it to refill them. Unfortunately, they don’t store much syrup, making it difficult to monitor food levels inside the hive and more vulnerable to invasion by robber bees.
3. 1 Gallon Hive Top Feeder
The 1 Gallon Hive Top Feeder is an ideal way to ensure your hives have enough food during summer and wintertime. It can also double as a dry sugar/pollen feeder in times when nectar sources are limited.
This bee box features a galvanized steel safety screen to prevent drowning of bees and is constructed of heavy duty plastic with no leak reservoir that will last for years. Bees access syrup through an opening between the two reservoirs.
Easy to use and replaceable stainless steel screen: simply place the pail over frames or over the hole in your inner cover.
4. 1 Gallon Deep Feeder
This feeder fits inside the hive body and replaces one frame, allowing you to feed seasonally without worrying about drowning your bees. It holds 1 gallon of syrup and has a textured interior wall to help reduce drowning hazards.
When starting a new colony or during the fall and spring seasons, it is essential that you provide your bees with food. Sugar syrup, pollen patties, or dry pollen in a feeder are all suitable options.
One of the simplest and most economical ways to provide bees with food is by using a pail feeder. This pail feeder comes complete with an embedded stainless steel feeder screen in its lid for convenient access.
5. 1 Gallon Frame Feeder
Frame feeders, also referred to as division board feeders, are an efficient way of feeding bees. They typically take the place of one or two frames and sit atop the brood box inside the hive.
Beekeepers looking to protect their bees while feeding them sugar syrup should consider this type of feeder. Its size matches a brood frame, making refilling and sliding back into the hive a breeze.
Frame feeders do have some drawbacks, though. Bees may drown due to open access to plastic and syrup as well as smooth walls which allow bees to fall into the feeder.
