There are several options for sugar syrup feeders for bees. You can use a Mason jar feeder, a Boardman feeder, a Frame feeder, or even a Pail feeder. Each type of feeder has its own benefits and disadvantages. Learn more about these feeders. And remember: be sure to read labels carefully before using them. Bees will be happier when they eat what they need.
Sugar syrup bees are drawn to honey and other sweet foods, which is why a Mason jar feeder is the most popular choice for home beekeepers. Sugar syrup is often easier to get than honey, so it is recommended to keep the sugar water in the entrance of the hive. The entrance feeder is typically an upside-down Mason jar with holes. The syrup drips into a wooden base that fits into the entrance’s grooves.
If you’re unsure how to make sugar syrup, you can simply cut slits into the lid of a quart jar and place it over the frames. Make sure that the top surface of the bag is flat and the slit should be approximately 3 inches long. You can use several of these jars at once – just make sure that you have a deep box that surrounds the feeders.
Boardman feeders
One of the best bee feeding options is the Boardman Feeder. This simple feeder consists of a mason jar filled with sugar syrup, which is accessible from the outside of the hive. The perforated lid of the Boardman Feeder must be tightly fastened to prevent any leaking syrup. The Boardman Feeder can be installed in the entrance of a wooden hive.
A typical Boardman feeder is a white feeding jar that screws into the entrance of a bee hive. It dispenses the liquid through a metal lid. The lid of a Boardman sugar syrup feeder is similar to that of a standard mason jar and screws into the boardman feeder’s metal body. The boardman feeder comes with a metal lid that has seventy-five-mm holes.
Frame feeders
If you’re wondering what to use for frame feeders for sugar syrup bees, look no further. These simple devices make feeding easy and convenient. Place a baggie of sugar syrup in a zip-top plastic bag. To use it, cut a slit in the bottom corner. Place the bag on a flat surface such as a frame. Then, snip thin slits along the edges. Make sure to limit the slits to the flat part of the bag. Press gently to prevent spillage.
The best time to use this feeder is during Spring and autumn. Bees won’t venture up the attic stairs to feed during cold weather, so using a contact feeder is recommended. Beekeepers who use a contact feeder will mimic the flow of nectar and queen during a laying period. A slow drip of weak syrup is preferred. Contact feeders are a good option for emergency feeding and Spring feeding.
Pail feeders
Bees feed on sugar syrup through buckets, which can be made of glass or plastic. A plastic super is placed on top of the hive and holds the syrup. Bees can either feed directly from the bucket or sit on its lip. There are some drawbacks to this design, including the risk of drowning the bees in the syrup. Beekeepers also risk robbing from other colonies.
A pail feeder should have a lip around the entire pail near the top. The divider walls should be inside the lip. A lip is required for proper operation. To fill the pail, use a drill bit of approximately 1/8″ in diameter. Care should be taken to fill the pail without allowing water to leak out. When filled with sugar syrup, the pail should be turned upside down on a flat surface to allow the bees to feed.
VitaFeed Gold
In order to keep your colony healthy and active, you need to offer your bees the best available nutrition. If the colony is weakened due to diseases such as dysentery or other diseases, you should feed them with VitaFeed Gold. It will improve the health and lifespan of your colony and increase its brood-rearing capacity. You can also feed your bees VitaFeed Green, which contains essential oils of walnut and marjoram. Both products are available at your usual beekeeping supplier.
A contact feeder is made of a plastic bucket with a gauze centre section. The syrup is placed in the bucket. The top section is a gauze patch that catches the syrup that passes through the gauze. The container is then placed on top of the hive, and a gauze patch is placed over the feeder hole in the crown board. An empty brood box is also needed to hold the roof. A contact feeder is more effective during Spring and emergency feedings than a regular feeding.
