If you want to feed your bees without a mess or a constant interruption, a wooden Hive Top Feeder is the way to go. Made of NY Pine, the wooden top feeder is sturdy and doubles as an outer cover, preventing the bees from drowning. And it’s easy to build! Listed below are the features of a wooden Hive Top Feeder. Hopefully, you’ll find one that suits your needs!
Contents
Pine hive top feeder holds two gallons of syrup
If you’re new to beekeeping, you may be wondering how to build your own hive top feeder. You can make one by using a 2’x4′ sheet of non-treated plywood. While clear pine is more expensive, knotty pine will work just as well. A wooden box will give you the look you’re going for without costing a fortune. One hive top feeder is typically used for three or four gallons of syrup.
Doubles as an outer cover
To make your own wooden hive top feeder, use scrap lumber to create a wooden hive top. The top of the feeder can be emptied from the outside, which means you don’t have to disturb the colony during feeding time. Depending on the season, you can switch the bottom board to either solid or screened. When you’re finished, paint it and seal it against the weather. You can create one or two complete 10-frame hive top feeders from a single sheet of plywood.
Keeps bees from drowning off
You may be wondering how to keep bees from drowning off a wooden hive top feeder. You can use a honey bee feeder, which is a plastic bag that is filled with syrup and placed over the top bars. Bees can’t get to it if it is full, so you need to re-fill it frequently. The downside to using a honey bee feeder is that it will interfere with the use of one frame. Also, the bees can drown in it.
Easy to build
You can build an easy to build wooden hive top feeder to feed your honey bees. You can use this to feed both wet and dry sugar. It has an easy to follow notch on top. The top feeder is made of New Zealand pine and does not require a chimney cap to be installed. If you are not a handy person, you can buy a wooden top feeder with a flat pack wooden outer that you simply need to put on top of the frames.
Cost
Wooden hive top feeders are a common way to supply honeybees with sugar syrup. They have a number of advantages, such as being easy to fill and do not disturb the cluster. They also are inexpensive, do not leak or break, and do not need to be painted. A downside of these feeders is that they are difficult to reach during colder weather, so they are better for colder climates.
Size
A hive top feeder can be made of wood or plastic, but it is better if the latter is used. A 2’x4′ piece of 3/4″ exterior grade non-treated plywood will work perfectly. Be sure to paint it and secure it against the elements. One wood feeder will fit one hive, but if you want to make several, you will need twice as much material. Depending on the number of frames, you can build several wooden feeders that each hold one hive.
Capacity
Beekeepers have a few options when it comes to the type of feeders available for their hives. There are many types of feeders that you can choose from, but the most basic is the top feeder, which holds up to 1.5 gallons (6L) of liquid syrup. A top feeder also doubles as a moisture reducer, which is important during the cold winter months. The top feeder can be made of wood chips, which help to remove moisture from the beehive.
