Unlike the hive-top feeder, a top feeder is much easier to handle. Here are a few advantages:
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Benefits of a top feeder
Using a top feeder has many advantages. It allows you to fill it up easily and without disturbing the bees, and the wide open top helps reduce spilled syrup. The benefit of using a top feeder is that you can simply dry it up when the feeding season is over, so there are fewer concerns about drowning your bees. However, you must make sure that the inner cover of the feeder sits flush on top of the bees’ food supply.
The internal top feeder is designed to fit on top of brood boxes, or on the top of an outer cover. They are large enough to hold gallons of syrup, and are easy to refill. Top feeders also have clever ways to keep the bees from drowning. The downsides of these feeders include their weight and the risk of moldy syrup. In addition, they are not portable and are prone to freezing in winter.
Protection from robber bees
Protecting your beehive from robber bees is very easy if you keep a top feeder. Robber bees are attracted to the sweet smell of honey. Once they’ve gotten in, they’ll be sure to come back for more. Using a top feeder will keep them away until nightfall, but even then, you should keep your hive closed until the nightfall.
You can protect your hive from robber bees by using entrance reducers or a top feeder. Entrance reducers make it harder for large groups of bees to get in. Because the entrance is less accessible, the guard bees will be able to inspect each entrant before entering the hive. A top feeder will keep robbers away from your hive while making it easier to keep the queen alive.
Robber bees will only attack a weak colony, which is especially vulnerable to weakened hives. Robber bees can also carry diseases. Bees can drift from one colony to another when they are robbing. Beekeepers should keep a watchful eye on any weaker colonies so they don’t go hungry. The best solution to protect your hive from robber bees is to keep a top feeder near the hive’s entrance.
Plastic pails are easier to use than a hive-top feeder
Hive-top feeders come in a variety of materials. You can choose from molded plastic to styrofoam. Some feeders have clever ways to keep the bees from drowning while others don’t. The main advantage of hive-top feeders is that you don’t have to replenish them as often. On the downside, they tend to drown the bees.
Hive-top feeders are more convenient than plastic pails. Inverted Mason jars can be used as feeders. These containers are more difficult to handle than hive-top feeders. They can attract other bees in the area. For that reason, it’s better to buy a feeder in bulk. A plastic pail is less difficult to use than a hive-top feeder for bees.
Both types of feeders need cleaning from time to time. However, you can use Honey Bee Healthy to reduce the possibility of mold. You can also choose a feeder that can hold more than two gallons of syrup. For beekeepers with an outyard, hive-top feeders are a better option than pails. However, both types of feeders have their place and have their advantages and disadvantages.
How to remove bees from a top feeder
Bees may not be taking their feed as usual and you’re wondering how to remove bees from a top-feeder hive. First, you need to look at the colony to see if it has any honey or not. If it does, it’ll move on to other areas where the foraging is rich and varied. If not, the colony will need the feeder until nectar starts coming in.
A top feeder is a shallow box that sits on top of the upper box, providing protection from the sun and robber bees. Most top feeders are compatible with eight-frame Langstroth equipment. The capacity varies between different manufacturers. Some top feeders hold four gallons of syrup while others hold three gallons. Once the colony has been thriving, you can remove the box and inspect the syrup level.
