As a beekeeper, you know the value of providing your bees with access to food at any time they require it. A bee feeder is an effective way of doing just this and should always remain available as part of their food supply.
There are various kinds of bee feeders on the market, so it is essential that you select one which meets your individual needs. Below are our favorite hive top feeders.
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Easy to Refill
Bees can typically provide themselves with food throughout most of the year, however there may be times when they require assistance, such as when new to an area or before winter begins.
Hive top feeders are an easy and cost-effective way to provide food to bees in need. Simply add drops of sugar water whenever needed!
These feeders can be added into a hive in place of frames and hold an impressive amount of syrup, though their effectiveness depends on taking special precautions to fill them up and prevent bees from drowning.
Easy to Clean
Beginner beekeepers should make sure their hive feeder is easy to keep clean; for instance, a top feeder can usually be cleaned using hot water and soap.
Hivetop feeders feature six access points designed to enable honey bees to access sugar water safely, and are well secured against invasion from robber bees.
To keep a hivetop feeder clean, it is important to regularly empty out moldy or fermented syrup well away from the hive and wipe down its roof and inner cover with soapy water; alternatively a mild vinegar solution can also help combat stubborn mold growth.
Safe Access Points
As bees begin their hive feeder feedings, it’s vitally important that they know how to do it safely. Placing the feeder in an area away from houses or gardens as well as near shared property lines or high traffic areas are all great strategies for safe feeding stations.
There are various methods available for feeding bees, each offering its own set of advantages and disadvantages. When choosing the perfect feeder for your beehive, make sure it suits them well – look for one designed to work alongside their specific beehive needs.
The ultimate hive feeder is an internal system designed to fit inside your hive, eliminating the mess created by baggie feeders while feeding bees without outside interference. Plus, this budget-friendly option costs only a few dollars to buy!
Holds a Lot of Sugar Water
An optimal hive feeder should hold around 4.5 liters of sugar water at one time – enough for your bees until they need more.
This feeder is specifically designed to work on 10 frame, 8 frame, wooden, and Lyson hives. Simply unscrew its blue ring, fill it completely with sugar syrup, and position the feeder inside an inner cover hole on your inner frame hive.
This feeder is an effective and simple solution to keeping bees fed without needing to leave their hive. Easy to refill, with safe access points for honey bees to gain access to sugar water for feeding purposes.
Simple Design
Bees are capable of finding food on their own most of the time; however, sometimes they require assistance to remain strong and healthy colonies. A hive feeder is an effective solution during these periods to ensure your colony remains strong and resilient.
Hive top feeders can be an invaluable asset to beekeepers during times of drought, cold weather or other situations where their bees require assistance establishing themselves. Easy to set up and use, they provide bees with safe access points for feeding purposes.
These feeders are easy to use and clean, cost less than other types of hive feeders, and can even be used year-round in warmer areas – making them an attractive option for many beekeepers.
