Bee feeders provide bee colonies with food when natural sources are limited or environmental conditions prevent foraging. There are various types of feeders on the market, each offering different advantages and disadvantages.
An entrance feeder, also known as a boardman feeder, consists of a syrup container and feeding tray that easily slide into a beehive’s entryway for use. This type of feeder makes cleaning simple while providing you with quick assessments of syrup levels without opening the hive itself.
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Easy to clean
Frame feeders are among the easiest feeders to keep clean and maintain for beehives, being composed of large polystyrene units with three gallon capacities and featuring Plexiglas panels which prevent bees from drowning in syrup. Some beekeepers add 80-grit sandpaper roughening or coat it with candle wax as additional seals against syrup leakage.
Frame feeders can provide bees with nourishment during times when resources or weather prevent foraging, such as during winter and when new packages arrive as beekeepers install them quickly. Beekeepers who need to feed colonies quickly often turn to these feeders, as each model features different methods to prevent drowning of their colonies – many models feature ladder systems which aid bees into entering them quickly.
Easy to refill
There are various styles of bee feeders on the market. Prices, ease of use and durability vary widely between them; some types are better suited to hotter climates than others. Four primary styles exist – entrance feeders placed at hive entrances make refilling easy but may be vulnerable to robbing due to limited syrup storage space compared with other feeder types.
Hive-top feeders can be easily placed atop any hive for convenient use and access. There are various sizes and designs to prevent bees from drowning (such as ladder or float) though this method still often leads to moldy sugar water and dead bees. Furthermore, full feeders may be difficult to move without spillage causing robbers accessing syrup sources; inspection is key here too for cracks that might allow thieves to gain entry to it.
Easy to transport
There are various kinds of feeders on the market. From easy and cost-effective models to more complicated options, choosing one for your hive should be an individual decision based on what meets its unique requirements.
An entrance feeder (commonly referred to as a Boardman feeder) sits outside of a hive and allows syrup access through a mesh-covered hole. While these feeders can be easily transported and cleaned, they can sometimes drip onto colonies beneath, hindering their ability to feed or freezing in cold temperatures.
Frame or division board feeders, which consist of containers the size and depth of a full-depth Langstroth frame, require floats in order to prevent bees from drowning in syrup, while being easy to transport and install.
Easy to install
New colonies often need external feeders because the hive may no longer provide enough space. A frame feeder is the best solution; taking up only one frame within the hive and easily fillable. They don’t induce robbing like division board feeders do while remaining unlikely to spill syrup all over bees’ bodies.
An entrance feeder consists of a feed jar and feeding tray placed inside the hive, where syrup drips from one into the other for easy bee access. This feeder is easy to manage, enabling you to keep tabs on how much feed remains; however, its exposed nature means it could freeze during cold weather, necessitating keeping an overlying deep super over the feeder to protect its integrity from extreme conditions.
