Miller feeders are boxes filled with syrup that are placed directly above beehives to provide bees with additional sustenance.
National size wooden miller feeders feature mesh ladders to provide greater access for bees while preventing bulging.
An inverted jar or can covering the inner cover hole works, but can cause robbing. Additionally, these boxes require you to suit up and disturb bees each time you need to refill them.
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Frame Feeders
Frame feeders are beehive feeders designed to replace one of the frames in a beehive and feature a plastic reservoir to store syrup, as well as a ladder-type structure inside that prevents bees from drowning. Although more challenging to clean than some other types, frame feeders still work effectively and should be considered when weather conditions make foraging impossible or when you need protection against heat or cold.
This innovative new design incorporates stiffer walls that better maintain their shape, eliminating gaps where bees may enter and drown. Furthermore, its textured interior wall helps bees avoid building burr comb.
This feeder for bees is the best available. Featuring a wooden cap that snugly covers its top surface for rigidity and to exclude bees from accessing syrup directly, as well as to prevent comb build-up and make cleaning simpler, it makes this feeder perfect.
Top Feeders
These feeders should be placed directly atop of the hive and allow bees to enter through circular holes on either side. You can fill these feeders with either liquid or solid food (but more effort may be required when filling solid ones), and include two inserts that form ladders so the bees do not drown in an emergency situation.
Filtered feeders are ideal for spring or stimulative feeding when slow-dripping syrup may provide benefits to the colony. Regular checks on these feeders should be conducted in order to detect cracking that could result in sugar water flooding into the hive and possibly killing bees.
Containers such as tin pails and plastic gallon buckets can be transformed into top feeders for beekeepers, while some also make their own from wood. Wooden feeders should always be treated with preservative before use to prevent sugar water spoilage prematurely and the wood becoming damp enough to host parasites like mites.
Contact Feeders
As its name implies, contact feeders consist of an enclosed container (typically mason jar) filled with liquid feed. They feature fine holes or gauze in the lid to allow bees to access it when inverted; any excess syrup then drips down and collects in another container to prevent waste or mold growth.
An entrance feeder provides another method of feeding bees. It consists of an inverted feeding tray fitted into the hive entrance and an inverted syrup container attached. While these arrangements make monitoring and refilling simple, they’re less effective at deterring robbers from breaking in.
Dadant & Sons provides high-quality designs that are easy to use and clean – the ideal solution when conditions become such that bees cannot forage on their own or an unexpected predator attack occurs. These options help the bees defend against potential robbing attempts more effectively and are ideal when conditions make foraging impossible or to prevent an unexpected predator attack.
Rapid Feeders
This rapid round top feeder is specifically designed to suit Flow Hives; it fits directly onto the inner cover beneath a pitched roof and holds one gallon of syrup. Made of plastic, its central hole lets bees enter, while a dome protects them from escape while providing gripping ridges for them to use when entering. Refills can be done without disturbing colony activity by simply removing its lid and inner cover for refill.
Frame feeders often need to be topped up, which can be an inconvenience for bees. A new design of feeder with an integrated cap and ladder has successfully addressed many of its drawbacks.
