Whether you’re a seasoned beekeeper or just starting out, you might be wondering what types of miller feeders are best for your bees. Fortunately, there are several types of feeders available, including frame feeders, solid food feeders, and rapid feeders.
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Solid food feeders
During the colder months of the year, beekeepers need to feed their bees solid food. Depending on the reason for feeding, there are different types of feeders available. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
External hive-top feeders are containers that are placed on top of the hive and inverted over the entrance hole. They can hold a large amount of syrup. The problem with these feeders is that they can freeze and break when the weather gets cold.
Internal hive-top feeders fit into the brood box. They can hold a lot of syrup, but the syrup will often spill everywhere. These feeders are heavy and can create a moldy paste.
There are many different types of internal and external hive-top feeders. They can be made of plastic or wood. They can be fitted with a wick to keep bees from coming into contact with the syrup.
There are also solid food feeders that can be placed on top of the bars of the frames. These feeders are very convenient for bee colony feeding.
Rapid feeders
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or are just starting out, there are many different types of feeders on the market. Each one is a good fit for a different style of hive, and some even require a bit of engineering skill to install correctly.
The Miller rapid feeder is a slick way to deliver a large volume of sugar syrup to bees. It’s also a good idea to include a float in the mix. This prevents the bees from drowning and gives them a nice platform to feed from.
The Miller’s float-able is a nice piece of kit, though it does require a bit of maintenance to keep it in tip top condition. You may want to install the float inside the hive box.
A quick glance at the front of your hive should tell you if you’ve got a Miller’s float on your hands. A good idea would be to place a float in the centre of the hive box and position it in the same direction as the lid.
Frame feeders
During cold weather, a frame feeder can help provide your bees with a steady supply of sugar syrup. When a colony is preparing for winter, it can consume over a gallon of feed each day. In addition, new colonies can be at risk for starvation.
A frame feeder is designed to be installed inside the hive. It replaces one or more brood nest frames. These feeders allow bees to access syrup inside the hive without drowning.
These feeders come in several types. One popular type is the Boardman Feeder. It’s placed at the hive’s entrance and uses a small-mouthed mason jar to hold feed. These feeders are easy to monitor from the outside of the hive. They also help prevent robbing. The downside to Boardman Feeders is that they need to be filled often. They aren’t as efficient in cool weather.
Another popular type of feeder is the entrance feeder. It is placed at the entrance of the hive and filled with sugar water. In addition to being easy to use, this feeder reduces disturbance to the hive.
Avoid feeding bees during a cold spell
During a cold spell, you may want to avoid feeding miller feeder for bees. When it is cold, bees cannot climb the attic stairs to feed. They may even starve on the foundation.
During cold weather, bees need carbohydrates and protein from pollen. You can give them this in the form of a dry pollen substitute, which is placed on the inner cover of the hive.
If you do not want to use pollen patties, you can feed pure granulated sugar. This can be purchased as sucrose syrup or high fructose corn syrup. It is important to purchase a pure sugar as impure sugars can be poisonous to bees.
You can also fill the combs with sugar syrup using a squeezy bottle. This can be done when the brood boxes are empty. However, it is best to wait until the blooms are out and the capped honey is at the top of the combs.
If you do want to use a pollen patty, make sure to use a small one. This will help to reduce the risk of Small Hive Beetles (SHB) in your hive.
